Prevent the risk of spreading African swine fever

Spraying disinfectants, sterilizing pig pens, protecting pig herds in Lang Son province. Photo: Lang Son Newspaper.

More than 22,000 pigs were destroyed.

In Lang Son province, pig farming accounts for a large proportion of the entire agricultural sector. Currently, the total pig herd in this province is about 186,000, an increase of nearly 4% over the same period in 2023.

With a large pig herd, the province has directed the implementation of many solutions to prevent and control the disease. However, from the end of May 2024 until now, African swine fever has tended to spread rapidly. To date, Lang Son has recorded outbreaks in all 11/11 districts and cities under the province.

The total number of households with pigs infected with African swine fever is up to 1,782 households in 399 villages in 99 communes and wards. The authorities of Lang Son province had to destroy more than 5,800 infected pigs, with a total weight of about 272 tons.

Along with Lang Son, 40 other provinces and cities across the country are also recording a complicated situation of African swine fever in the first half of 2024. Currently, the whole country has had to destroy more than 22,000 pigs. The epidemic is serious and persistent in some provinces such as: Lang Son, Bac Kan, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh...

Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of African swine fever outbreaks increased 2.4 times; the number of pigs that had to be culled increased by nearly 94, while the number of villages, communes/wards with the epidemic also increased. Many outbreaks have not yet passed 21 days...

According to Phan Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the risk of African swine fever reoccurring and spreading widely in the coming time is very high. One of the reasons is that because pig prices are currently good, farmers tend to restock their herds en masse, especially small-scale farmers and those who have been affected by the disease.

In addition, actual records show that the control of trading, transporting pigs, pig products, and pig slaughter in localities is currently not strict. Small-scale farming still accounts for a large proportion, not ensuring biosafety requirements...

Biosecurity in livestock farming is the solution to prevent the outbreak and spread of African swine fever.

Responsibility of localities

Faced with the complicated situation of African swine fever, localities have recently focused on implementing many solutions to prevent the disease. Some localities have implemented relatively effective measures, helping to prevent the outbreak and spread of this disease, including Hanoi.

Sharing about the work of preventing and controlling African swine fever, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ta Van Tuong said that, along with strictly implementing the directions of the Central Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on preventing and controlling animal diseases in general, the city promotes livestock farming according to the farm model, develops key livestock farming communes to gradually reduce household, small-scale, and scattered livestock farming.

“Disease surveillance is carried out closely and regularly by the Hanoi agricultural sector. Virus circulation surveillance ensures the right target, is the basis for early risk forecasting and proactive plans to prevent and control animal diseases, especially African swine fever…” - Mr. Ta Van Tuong added.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, the Government has paid great attention to the prevention and control of animal diseases in general and African swine fever in particular. Up to now, there have been basically complete legal documents, programs, plans, and very detailed and specific instructions for each disease and each period. Therefore, the most important thing now is to organize implementation in localities, especially at the district and commune levels, enterprises and livestock farmers.

To prevent the risk of outbreaks and spread of African swine fever, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to rectify veterinary work at district and commune levels; promote the construction of disease-free livestock farming chains and areas; and guide people to strictly apply biosafety measures for pig farming.

In addition, it is necessary to promptly detect, warn and promptly and thoroughly handle outbreaks of African swine fever; prioritize local resources in handling outbreaks, and prevent the disease from spreading widely.

 

In mid-June 2024, the Prime Minister issued a telegram on focusing on synchronous, drastic and effective implementation of solutions to prevent and control livestock and poultry diseases; emphasizing: Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities are responsible to the Prime Minister if widespread epidemics occur, causing great damage in the management area.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/ngan-nguy-co-lan-rong-benh-dich-ta-lon-chau-phi.html