Hai Duong builds fence to prevent African swine fever "storm"

Mr. Bui Huy Hanh's livestock farm in Tai Son commune (Tu Ky district) is always kept closed, preventing strangers from entering.

High risk

More than five years have passed, but the people of Hien Thanh ward (Kinh Mon district) still remember the "storm" of African swine fever that swept through the area. In 2019, Hien Thanh ward was the first locality in the entire province to experience an outbreak of African swine fever. It was also considered a high-risk area for infection because it borders Hai Phong city, which has many outbreaks of African swine fever.

Mr. Vu Van An, a veterinary officer in Hien Thanh ward, said: “Currently, there is only one large-scale pig farm in the ward with about 500 pigs, located separately from residential areas. The number of pigs raised individually by residents is only about 100. Recognizing the high risk of African swine fever spreading to the ward, the local authorities are intensifying efforts to disseminate information on disease prevention and control measures. In particular, they are controlling the slaughter and consumption of pork. Currently, the supply of pork remains mainly within the ward and the town.”

According to the Kinh Mon Town Agricultural Service Center, the locality currently has over 41,500 pigs. As it borders an area currently experiencing an outbreak, to prevent African swine fever, Kinh Mon town has disinfected food markets and high-risk public areas; reviewed and compiled the demand for African swine fever vaccines for fattening pigs. Veterinary officers have been assigned to monitor the disease in villages and residential areas. Coordination with specialized agencies and market management authorities is underway to detect, prevent, and strictly handle the buying, selling, and transportation of pigs and pork products of unknown origin.

Disinfecting all vehicles entering and exiting the farm of Mr. Bui Huy Hanh in Tai Son commune (Tu Ky district) to eliminate African swine fever pathogens.

Cam Hoang commune is one of the localities with a relatively large pig population in Cam Giang district. Therefore, the prevention and control of African swine fever is a top priority for the locality. The commune has coordinated with the District Agricultural Services Center to review and conduct trial vaccinations against African swine fever at some small-scale pig farms in the area. At the same time, they have advised and guided households to implement biosecurity measures to prevent the disease.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the beginning of 2024, 44 out of 63 provinces and cities have reported African swine fever outbreaks, including provinces and cities bordering Hai Duong such as Quang Ninh and Hai Phong.

Hai Duong province currently has approximately 303,000 pigs for meat production, a 4.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Livestock farming is developing in the direction of reducing small-scale farming and increasing large-scale, concentrated farming. At a conference on solutions to prevent and control African swine fever, organized by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on July 16th, representatives from the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities all acknowledged the high risk of the disease spreading to the province. Besides the rapid and complex nature of the disease's spread, one of the reasons cited is the continued sale of sick pigs or consumption of pork of unknown origin, requiring active coordination from local authorities. Without decisive action, the disease will erupt and spread widely.

Awareness from the farm owner

Experimental vaccination against African swine fever is being conducted in Cam Hoang commune.

Nearly a year ago, Mr. Nguyen Van Boi's farm in Pham Xa 2 village, Tuan Viet commune (Kim Thanh district) suffered heavy losses when he purchased piglets from another province that were infected with African swine fever. Not only did he lose money, but he also had to spend months disinfecting his pig pens. Mr. Boi said: “After the incident with the infected piglets, I didn't dare buy piglets from outside anymore. Instead, I bought five sows from a farm to breed. Having my own piglets makes farming safer. Disease prevention is strictly implemented. The farming area is completely off-limits to outsiders, and the pens are disinfected daily. All food sources related to pork are self-sufficient to ensure no pathogens from outside enter.”

Aware of the limitations of his farm, Mr. Tran Van Tho in Phuong Hoang village, Cam Hoang commune (Cam Giang district) agreed to vaccinate his pigs against African swine fever. In early July, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine conducted a trial vaccination of 37 of his pigs. “The pigs developed normally after the vaccination. If the vaccine is effective, it will be good news for small-scale farmers like us,” Mr. Tho said.

The sale and pickup of pigs takes place at a separate gate, which is disinfected before, during, and after the sale.

In large-scale livestock farms, disease prevention is a top priority. With the motto "disease prevention is paramount," Mr. Bui Huy Hanh's farm in Tai Son commune has safely weathered numerous disease outbreaks. This is the largest farm in Tu Ky district, with over 1,000 breeding sows.

A common feature of all farms that have weathered the African swine fever outbreak is the establishment of a robust biological barrier. Farm owners have implemented a 100% lockdown, absolutely prohibiting unauthorized access. Vehicles transporting livestock and feed are thoroughly disinfected before loading and unloading. The pig entry and exit gates have disinfectant pits filled with lime powder, which are regularly replenished. Pig pens and surrounding areas are disinfected once daily using strong disinfectants and lime powder. The pig farms are kept clean, dry, and well-ventilated, with regular spraying to kill flies and mosquitoes. Workers are assigned to specific pens, closely monitoring the herds to promptly address any outbreaks.

According to Mr. Vu Van Hoat, Head of the Provincial Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, in addition to implementing biosecurity measures in livestock farming, vaccination against African swine fever is also one of the solutions for disease prevention and control. Several provinces, such as Cao Bang and Lang Son, have implemented widespread vaccination on fattening pigs, achieving an immunity rate of over 90%. In Hai Duong, the unit has conducted evaluation vaccinations on fattening pig herds of several small-scale farmers. Currently, the pigs vaccinated in the trial are developing well. Local authorities are reviewing the situation to request the Provincial People's Committee to provide funding for purchasing vaccines to prevent the disease in fattening pigs.

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Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/hai-duong-xay-dung-hang-rao-chan-bao-dich-ta-lon-chau-phi-388776.html