The Prime Minister requested strict implementation of measures to prevent and control African swine fever.

Inspecting the work of preventing and controlling African swine fever in Chi Quang B village, Phu Thong town, Bach Thong district ( Bac Kan province).

The directive states: According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the beginning of the year, over 660 outbreaks of African swine fever have occurred in 44 provinces and cities nationwide, resulting in the forced culling of over 42,400 pigs, especially in the provinces of Bac Kan, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Son La, Quang Nam , and Long An… causing significant losses to livestock farmers. The disease is showing an increasing trend, with a very high risk of widespread transmission, potentially affecting food supply, the consumer price index, and the environment.

To prevent, control, and manage disease outbreaks promptly and effectively, the Prime Minister requests that the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities report to the Standing Committees of the Provincial and City Party Committees, focusing on leadership and direction, and proactively organizing the decisive, synchronized, and effective implementation of disease prevention and control measures in accordance with the directives of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development .

Specifically, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and cities must directly supervise and mobilize local resources to completely eliminate outbreaks, preventing the emergence of new outbreaks; organize the disposal of sick, suspected sick, and dead pigs; proactively implement policies to support livestock farmers who suffer losses due to the disease in accordance with the law; and promptly detect, prevent, and resolutely handle cases of buying, selling, and transporting sick pigs, or discarding dead pigs that spread the disease and pollute the environment.

Local authorities are guiding livestock farmers to strengthen hygiene and disinfection in livestock pens and surrounding high-risk areas; promote biosecurity in livestock farming, and build disease-free livestock farming facilities and zones. Along with this, they are reviewing and compiling specific and accurate statistics on the total pig population and the number of fattening pigs that have been vaccinated against African swine fever; based on this, they are approving plans, prioritizing the allocation of funds for centralized vaccine procurement, and organizing synchronized vaccination at the same time, in accordance with the Prime Minister's directives in Directive No. 29/CT-TTg, Telegrams No. 1097/CĐ-TTg and No. 58/CĐ-TTg, and the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and cities shall direct the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees at all levels to strictly implement disease prevention and control measures, especially in areas where outbreaks are occurring or are at risk of occurring; and to establish disease-free livestock farming chains and zones. At the same time, they shall strengthen information and communication through various means about the dangerous nature of the disease, the risk of recurrence and spread, disease prevention measures, and the use of African swine fever vaccine for fattening pigs according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Local authorities must strictly adhere to reporting requirements, ensuring that disease data is complete, timely, and accurate on the online animal disease reporting system (VAHIS); strictly handle cases of concealing outbreaks or delaying reporting that lead to the spread of disease; and consider holding heads of departments accountable if they are negligent or careless in leadership and direction, resulting in disease outbreaks within their jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with other ministries, sectors, and localities, will proactively allocate funds and resources to effectively implement the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever for the period 2020-2025, according to assigned tasks and authority, in order to achieve the Plan's objectives. The Ministry will focus on directing, organizing, guiding, urging, and inspecting disease prevention and control; proactively closely monitoring the disease situation, ensuring early detection, warning, and timely and thorough handling of outbreaks, preventing widespread disease spread; and urging localities to promptly develop, approve, allocate funds, and effectively implement the contents of the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever for the period 2020-2025.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed market management forces and related units to coordinate with veterinary forces, police, and traffic inspectors to strengthen control, detection, and timely prevention and strict handling of cases of trading and transporting diseased pigs and pig products, those of unknown origin, or those that have not undergone quarantine on the market, in order to prevent disease and other animal epidemics.

The Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of Information and Communications to direct central and local news agencies to intensify propaganda about disease prevention and control measures so that people do not panic and proactively apply preventive measures according to the guidance of specialized agencies.

The Ministry of Finance, based on the state budget's balancing capacity, will allocate funds to ministries, agencies, and localities to support activities for the prevention and control of African Swine Fever and implement the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever for the period 2020-2025, in accordance with the current state budget decentralization, ensuring compliance with the laws on state budget and other relevant laws.

The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is guiding localities in strengthening specialized veterinary management agencies at the provincial and district levels to ensure sufficient personnel for animal disease prevention and control.

Relevant ministries and agencies, and members of the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever, according to their assigned functions and duties, should proactively direct specialized agencies to coordinate and implement decisive and effective measures to prevent and control African Swine Fever.

TH (according to the News newspaper)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/thu-tuong-yeu-cau-thuc-hien-nghiem-cac-bien-phap-phong-chong-dich-ta-lon-chau-phi-387380.html