Prime Minister directs focus on preventing and controlling livestock and poultry diseases

The official dispatch sent to the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities; and the Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Public Security, National Defense, Finance, Industry and Trade, and Information and Communications, clearly states:

According to reports from veterinary agencies and localities, from the beginning of 2024 to the present, African Swine Fever (ASF) has appeared in 410 communes in 40 provinces and cities, forcing the culling of over 17,400 pigs (a 53.74% increase compared to the same period in 2023); Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has occurred in 44 communes of 13 provinces and cities; suspected rabies cases have been detected in 34 provinces and cities; Lumpy Skin Disease (LBD) has occurred in over 60 communes of 9 provinces; Avian Influenza A/H5N1 has occurred in 7 provinces, forcing the culling of over 12,000 poultry, and notably, one person has died from A/H5N1 A/H5N1 virus infection and one person from A/H9N2 A/H9N2 virus infection. The risk of disease outbreaks is expected to increase sharply in the coming period, seriously affecting food supply, the consumer price index (CPI), people's health, and the environment.

Seven provinces have experienced outbreaks of avian influenza A/H5N1, resulting in the forced culling of over 12,000 poultry.

To ensure timely and effective prevention and control of livestock and poultry diseases, and to minimize negative impacts on production and the lives of livestock farmers, the Prime Minister requests:

1. Ministers, heads of relevant agencies, and chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall focus on directing the comprehensive, decisive, and effective implementation of solutions for preventing and controlling livestock and poultry diseases in accordance with the law on veterinary medicine, the directives of the Prime Minister , especially the national programs and plans for preventing and controlling livestock and poultry diseases.

2. Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities

a) Directly supervise and mobilize legal resources to completely eliminate disease outbreaks, preventing the emergence of new outbreaks; dispose of sick or suspected sick animals; proactively implement measures and policies to support livestock farmers who suffer losses due to disease outbreaks in accordance with the law; promptly detect, prevent, and resolutely handle cases of buying, selling, and transporting sick animals, and discarding dead animal carcasses that spread disease and pollute the environment;

b) Organize and implement the vaccination program for livestock, ensuring that at least 80% of the total existing livestock are vaccinated as soon as possible;

c) Review and adjust the local plan for preventing and controlling livestock and poultry diseases in 2024 to suit the actual situation; direct specialized agencies and local authorities to promptly and effectively implement the vaccination plan for livestock, especially against avian influenza, rabies, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, swine flu, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

d) Direct specialized agencies to guide livestock farmers in strengthening the application of hygiene and disease prevention measures for their livestock; focus resources on organizing the construction of disease-free livestock farming facilities and zones; proactively and decisively handle newly detected outbreaks; and strictly punish cases of concealing outbreaks or delaying reporting, which lead to the spread of disease.

d) Intensify information and communication efforts through various forms and content suitable for each target group, raising public awareness and responsibility regarding the risk of disease outbreaks and disease prevention and control measures;

e) Urgently consolidate and strengthen the capacity of the veterinary system at all levels to ensure the resources for effectively organizing and implementing tasks related to the prevention and control of animal diseases, and preventing the smuggling and illegal transportation of animals and animal products;

g) Establish working groups to inspect and supervise the work of preventing and controlling animal diseases; build disease-free livestock chains and zones.

h) Be held accountable to the Prime Minister if a widespread outbreak of livestock or poultry diseases occurs, causing significant damage within the managed area.

3. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall preside over and coordinate with other ministries, sectors, and localities:

a) Focus on directing, guiding, urging, and inspecting the prevention and control of animal diseases in localities; proactively monitor the disease situation closely, ensuring early detection, warning, and thorough handling of outbreaks, preventing the disease from spreading widely;

b) Coordinate with local authorities and relevant ministries and agencies to promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal transportation of animals and animal products across the border into Vietnam;

c) To urge and inspect localities and organizations to effectively implement national programs and plans on animal disease prevention and control approved by the Prime Minister;

d) Coordinate with international organizations to support in-depth control and analysis in the prevention and control of livestock and poultry diseases, and expand disease management through online systems.

4. The Ministry of Health provides professional and technical guidance, organizes implementation, inspects, and supervises the work of preventing and controlling infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans.

5. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will strengthen market management, proactively detect and strictly handle cases of transporting and consuming animals and products of unknown origin in the market.

6. The Ministry of Public Security directs its units and local police forces to coordinate with functional forces of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and local authorities in preventing and strictly handling, in accordance with the law, cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of animals and animal products.

7. The Ministry of National Defence directs the Border Guard Force to closely coordinate with functional units of ministries, sectors, and local authorities in preventing smuggling and illegal transportation of animals and animal products along the border; directs units to coordinate with localities to organize information and propaganda to raise awareness among people in border areas on disease prevention and control, the dangers of animal diseases, and the harm caused by trading and transporting animals and animal products that are not quarantined or of unknown origin.

8. The Ministry of Information and Communications, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, shall direct and promote widespread dissemination of information about the disease situation, risk factors, and disease prevention and control measures to prevent public panic and encourage people to proactively apply preventive measures as guided by the health and veterinary sectors.

9. The Ministry of Finance shall promptly allocate funds for the prevention and control of animal diseases as requested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and in accordance with legal regulations.

10. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang is assigned to directly monitor and direct the implementation of this Official Dispatch.

The Government Office will monitor and urge relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to implement this directive, and promptly report any obstacles or difficulties encountered during the implementation process to the Prime Minister.

baochinhphu.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/thu-tuong-chi-dao-tap-trung-phong-chong-dich-benh-gia-suc-gia-cam-post385475.html