Proactively and synchronously deploy prevention and control solutions

African swine fever (ASF) is occurring nationwide, including in Dong Thap province, a locality with a developed livestock industry, with a total herd of about 470,000 pigs. Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) of Dong Thap province, Huynh Tat Dat, shared the results of ASF prevention and control in the area as well as solutions to be implemented in the coming time.

* Reporter (PV): First of all, could you please tell us about the developments of the DTHCP situation in the whole country in general and Dong Thap province in particular up to this point?

* Comrade Huynh Tat Dat: According to the national information system on livestock disease management, up to this point, there have been about 1,300 outbreaks nationwide, with a total number of infected and culled pigs of about 290,000. Currently, there are about 860 outbreaks remaining in 34 provinces and cities. Particularly for Dong Thap province, because the Department of Agriculture has proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee to carry out epidemic prevention and control work since the beginning of the year, the epidemic situation has been basically stable so far. Since the beginning of the year, there have been only 12 outbreaks in 13 households in the province, with a total number of infected and culled pigs of 430. The number of outbreaks has also decreased compared to 2024. When an outbreak occurred, the Department of Agriculture and Environment directed the Veterinary Department to focus on epidemic prevention, control and suppression. Therefore, up to this point, there is only 1 outbreak in My Thanh commune that has not passed 21 days. The remaining outbreaks have passed 21 days. The strain of virus causing DTHCP is similar to previous years.

Comrade Huynh Tat Dat, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Environment.

* Reporter: From now until the end of the year, especially when farmers are promoting herd restoration to serve the Tet market, what solutions does the Department of Agriculture and Environment have to prevent and control ASF, contributing to protecting people's pig herds?

* Comrade Huynh Tat Dat: After the merger, the total pig herd of Dong Thap province is about 470 thousand, reaching about 99% of the annual plan, an increase of about 13% over the same period. To be proactive in disease prevention and control, ensuring food and food supplies from now until the end of the year, the Department of Agriculture advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a document directing departments, branches and localities to focus on synchronous solutions, not allowing the disease to occur and spread widely. On that basis, the Provincial People's Committee issued a document directing departments, branches and localities to strengthen solutions to prevent and control ASF according to the direction of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 109 dated July 16, 2025.

Firstly, it is necessary to strengthen the dissemination of information to the people and localities in implementing epidemic prevention and control solutions in the area. At the same time, it is recommended that people proactively declare and promptly inform local authorities and commune-level veterinary forces to isolate areas, collect samples for monitoring and organize epidemic prevention and control work in accordance with regulations and instructions of the veterinary sector. This is to prevent and not let epidemics arise and spread widely.

Second, the Department of Agriculture recommends that all organizations and individuals involved in livestock farming activities implement biosafety livestock farming solutions to contribute to improving livestock farming efficiency as well as developing sustainable livestock farming. For the current outbreak that has not passed 21 days, the Department of Agriculture proactively coordinates with other sectors and localities to closely monitor and prevent further outbreaks of disease in the surrounding area.

In the coming time, the agricultural sector will coordinate with specialized sectors to strictly control the business, purchase, sale and transportation of pigs.

The Department of Agriculture also directed the veterinary force to carry out quarantine work well and strictly according to the direction of the Central Government and the Provincial People's Committee. At the same time, coordinate with specialized sectors to strictly control the business, purchase, sale, and transportation of animals and animal products, especially for animal products that have not been quarantined, which are at risk of not ensuring food safety and affecting the health of consumers.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture will also implement the month of general cleaning, disinfection and environmental detoxification under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Provincial People's Committee to control and ensure environmental hygiene in livestock areas, production facilities, businesses, and livestock and poultry trading in the province. This contributes to limiting the spread of pathogens as well as improving epidemic prevention and control. At the same time, fully prepare equipment and supplies for epidemic prevention and control. When an epidemic occurs, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will promptly provide localities and commune-level veterinary forces to promptly carry out epidemic prevention and control work with the motto "Fast, neat and effective".

* Reporter: What notes and recommendations does the Department of Agriculture have for people when using DTHCP vaccine?

According to comrade Huynh Tat Dat, when the DTHCP epidemic occurs, the important issue is the awareness of the people in implementing the epidemic prevention and control work. People must proactively and promptly report to the local authorities as well as the commune-level veterinary force to promptly carry out the work of preventing and zoning the epidemic; take samples for monitoring and proactively carry out the epidemic prevention and control work in the area. This is to limit the spread of the epidemic and prevent it from occurring on a large scale.

* Comrade Huynh Tat Dat: Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced the permission to circulate some types of DTHCP vaccines nationwide. The Department of Agriculture recommends that people, organizations and individuals participating in livestock farming activities proactively vaccinate their livestock, but must ensure the recommendations and instructions of the manufacturer and the Veterinary Department to improve the effectiveness of use and protect livestock well.

The use of DTHCP vaccine will bring better efficiency in protecting livestock from epidemics. This has been previously evaluated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development before announcing the permission for circulation. Therefore, the use of the vaccine and compliance with the principles of use according to the manufacturer's instructions will ensure efficiency in use as well as better protection of livestock.

Currently, the use of DTHCP vaccine is not included in the national expanded immunization program. Therefore, the Department of Agriculture only recommends that people use it. Currently, the rate of DTHCP vaccine use for pig herds is not high. Therefore, in the coming time, the Department of Agriculture will continue to recommend, propagate, and guide people to focus on implementing many solutions such as: biosafety in livestock farming, ensuring environmental sanitation, including combining the use of DTHCP vaccine to better protect livestock herds.

* Reporter: Thank you, comrade!

Mr. THANH (perform)

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/xa-hoi/202508/benh-dich-ta-heo-chau-phi-chu-dong-trien-khai-dong-bo-cac-giai-phap-phong-chong-1048218/