Nghe An overcomes difficulties in responding to livestock and veterinary epidemics

Despite facing numerous challenges in veterinary disease management, Nghe An's livestock industry has strived to overcome difficulties, thereby ensuring the fulfillment of assigned targets and tasks.

African swine fever has at times devastated Nghe An's livestock industry. Photo: Viet Khanh.

At this time, the livestock industry in the whole country is facing a lot of pressure due to many barriers and challenges. Nghe An province, where there is a large herd of livestock and poultry, a large area with many national highways, many animal markets, combined with the small-scale livestock farming that accounts for the majority, means that the worries are even more constant.

In addition, the unfavorable weather conditions in 2025, natural disasters, and continuous storms and floods are also factors that have pushed Nghe An's livestock and veterinary sectors into a difficult situation. Not to mention, the recent storms No. 3 and No. 5 have left extremely serious consequences, not only causing direct damage but also contributing to the disruption of the reproduction process in some flood-prone areas. After the storm, the pollution situation is very severe, the humid environment is considered an ideal condition for diseases to spread and arise on a large scale.

In fact, from July to September 2025, African swine fever caused the local livestock industry to collapse. In a short period of time, the epidemic broke out on a large scale, the number of infected and culled pigs increased dramatically, at "hot spots" in the communes of Dai Dong, Hoa Quan, Xuan Lam, Anh Son, Yen Xuan... the situation was really dire, thereby posing many challenges for the authorities, local authorities and the farmers themselves.

To avoid the risk of a breakdown, the Nghe An Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine promptly advised the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Provincial People's Committee to urgently deploy a response plan. Through specialized seminars and conferences, combined with a series of "urgent" official dispatches and directives, the task of responding to livestock epidemics, focusing on African swine fever, was immediately deployed on a large scale.

With the timely advice of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, African swine fever in Nghe An has been basically controlled. Photo: Viet Khanh.

During the implementation process, Nghe An Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department has demonstrated its outstanding role. In addition to advisory work, the Department has also proactively established working groups/teams, directed all staff of specialized departments, and the Agricultural Service Station (before being dissolved) to directly follow the base, supporting localities in fighting the epidemic 24/24. On the other hand, closely connecting with the police force, market management, and localities to strictly handle cases of illegal transportation of animals, animal products, and sick animals to minimize risks.

Talking to the reporter of Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, Mr. Dang Van Minh, Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Nghe An shared: "Currently, the veterinary force at the grassroots level is seriously lacking, many communes are vacant for this position, while the semi-professional department has simultaneously quit their jobs. From the urgent nature of the actual situation, the Department has proactively assigned and arranged human resources to regularly be present directly at the scene in the direction of hand-holding and guiding. From leaders to employees, everyone must uphold the spirit and common responsibility, everyone must roll up their sleeves and get to work, absolutely not be negligent or negligent".

Thanks to timely guidance and support from the livestock industry, the veterinary disease situation in Nghe An province has shown a clear improvement. Specifically, African swine fever, after reaching its peak, is now basically under control, with only small outbreaks remaining.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nghe-an-vuot-kho-ung-pho-dich-benh-chan-nuoi-thu-y-d788060.html