Resolutely prevent African swine fever

Pig farming in Mo Cay Nam district. Photo: P. Hau

The Provincial People's Committee requests relevant agencies, units, and People's Committees of districts and cities to deploy solutions to control and prevent African swine fever in accordance with the provisions of the Veterinary Law, documents guiding the implementation of the law, especially the directives of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD), the Provincial People's Committee and specialized sectors.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment shall preside over and coordinate with departments, branches and localities to closely monitor and supervise the epidemic situation, direct the implementation of epidemic prevention measures according to Plan No. 8267/KH-UBND dated December 4, 2024 of the Provincial People's Committee on animal disease prevention in the province in 2025. When an epidemic is detected, guide localities to strictly implement the epidemic declaration and organize epidemic prevention in accordance with regulations. Strengthen quarantine of pigs and pig products to detect pathogens early and handle them promptly according to regulations, prevent African swine fever and other animal diseases from arising and spreading. Establish a working group to organize inspections and urge the implementation of animal disease prevention solutions, especially African swine fever, to proactively monitor the epidemic situation closely, detect early, warn and direct the thorough handling of outbreaks, and prevent the disease from spreading widely.

Along with that, the Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with localities to effectively organize the first phase of the General Cleaning, Disinfection and Environmental Decontamination Month in 2025 under the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 1200/UBND-KT dated February 26, 2025; review materials, chemicals, and timely purchase to ensure resources to effectively implement animal disease prevention tasks.

The Department of Industry and Trade directs the Market Management Department to strengthen patrols and controls to prevent and promptly detect illegal transportation of pigs and pig products in the province; strictly handle cases of trading and transporting sick pigs and pig products of unknown origin, not quarantined, and uncontrolled slaughter in the market to prevent African swine fever and other animal diseases.

The provincial police directed functional units to coordinate with relevant departments and branches to organize inspections, monitor the situation, update the list of subjects showing signs of trading, transporting, and consuming smuggled pigs and pig products, suspected of smuggling, and illegal transportation; coordinate with forces to organize the fight to arrest and strictly handle according to the provisions of law.

Chairmen of People's Committees of districts and cities directly direct the drastic and synchronous implementation of measures to prevent and control African swine fever in their areas according to the province's directives and instructions from specialized sectors...

According to the Provincial People's Committee, due to the complicated developments of the African swine fever epidemic and the shortage of pork supply in the market, and the recent increase in the price of live pigs, the risk of African swine fever occurring in the near future is very high. The reason is that the pathogen persists in the livestock environment in the province because in recent years, the province's pig farming has had outbreaks of African swine fever. Currently, the weather is changing seasons, and saltwater intrusion has adversely affected the health of livestock.

In addition, the province's total pig herd is large while the farming is mainly done on a small-scale, unsecured basis. Trading, transportation, and veterinary treatment services do not ensure veterinary hygiene during implementation. The pork market is scarce, and the price of live pigs is high, posing a risk of hiding the disease, and slow reporting causes the disease to spread widely...

Head of the Ben Tre Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department Tran Quang Thai said that recently, the province has implemented disease prevention in livestock herds quite well, and livestock diseases have been effectively controlled. The province currently has a total herd of about 413,915 pigs, an increase of 8.74% over the same period. The output price of live pigs is at a high level, and households raising pigs for sale have made good profits, with an average profit of 2.5 - 3 million VND/pig.

Angel

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/quyet-liet-phong-chong-benh-dich-ta-heo-chau-phi-a143892.html