African swine fever outbreaks discovered in Hung Yen, Thai Binh
Vietnam has detected African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the northern provinces of Thai Binh and Hung Yen, unveiled Director of the Department of Animal Health Pham Van Dong on February 19.
Director of the Department of Animal Health Pham Van Dong (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has detected Africanswine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the northern provinces of Thai Binh and HungYen, unveiled Director of the Department of Animal Health Pham Van Dong onFebruary 19.
Accordingly, the AFS virus was discovered in Hung Yen’sTrung Nghia commune (Hung Yen city) and Yen Hoa commune (Yen My district), withthe results of samples taken from other farms surrounding the outbreak spots stillpending.
Meanwhile, in Thai Binh, a number of household-based pigfarms in Hung Ha district’s Dong Do commune were also found to be contaminatedwith the disease. The results of samples taken from nearby farms were negative.
Dong said in response to the detection, the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has directed the culling of allinfected pigs and the crucial conduction of a cleaning process in the hotspotsand high-risk locations. The transport, slaughtering, and distribution of porkfrom the AFS-hit areas are under tight monitoring by competent agencies, whilemass examinations of all pig farms in these communes will be launched.
The official advised farmers to stay calm and promptlyinform the local animal health management units if they notice an outbreak,rather than trying to sell their infected pigs which could have widespreadeffects across the country.
The ASF virus does not affect humans but does causehaemorrhagic fever in pigs and wild boars that is almost always fatal. There isno antidote or vaccine, and the only known preventative measure is a mass cullof infected livestock. The disease spreads by contact between infected pigs orother wild animals and can inflict massive economic damage on farms.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE),between 2017 and February 18, 2019, 20 countries and regions have suffered fromthe ASF, with over 1.08 million pigs culled. A total of 105 outbreaks werediscovered in China from August 3, 2018 to February 18, 2019, resulting in thetermination of 950,000 pigs, while one dead pig was found to be positive withthe ASF virus in Taiwan on January 17, 2019.
Given the complexity of ASF outbreaks in China, which bordersmany northern localities of Vietnam, the MARD had recently announced that thedisease is at high risk of entering the country. –VNA
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Director of the Department of Animal Health Pham Van Dong (Photo: VNA) 
