Vietnam scrambles to wipe out African swine fever

The ministry reported that more than 660 African swine fever outbreaks have been detected 44 provinces and cities nationwide since the beginning of the year, with more than 42,400 pigs culled, causing great losses to farmers.

The ASF epidemic is developing most complicatedly and severely in Bac Kan and Lang Son provinces in the north, followed by Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, and Son La provinces also in the north, Quang Nam province in the central region, and Long An province in the south, said the ministry, adding the whole country now has 346 outbreaks in 25 provinces and cities in less than 21 days.

The epidemic is on the rise and likely to spread on a large scale that would impact food supply, consumer price index and the environment, warned the ministry.

Nguyen Van Long, director of the Department of Animal Health, attributed the rise in ASF outbreaks to local lax management with regard to the declaration of outbreaks, the slaughtering and transport of pigs in disease hit localities, and the implementation of disease prevention measures, among other causes.

Although there is African swine fever vaccines, localities and farmers have not yet organized vaccination for pork herds, he said.

According to the director, firms have produced and supplied to the market 5.7 million doses of vaccine to prevent African swine fever. Some localities such as Cao Bang, Bac Giang, Son La, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh have stepped up vaccinations, helping control the epidemic.

To ensure disease prevention and control, Long requested that provinces and cities pool resources for disease prevention and control; closely monitor, early detect, and timely and thorough handle outbreaks to prevent the disease from spreading widely.

He reminded localities to promote vaccination, direct livestock households to clean and disinfect barns, apply biosecurity technology in farming, and at the same time enhance communications.