Eureka moment for African swine fever vaccine in Vietnam
The successful production of an African swine fever vaccine is a significant development for the pig breeding sector in Vietnam, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.
Vietnam has become the first country to successfully produce African swine fever vaccine. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)🌄 – The successful production of an African swine fever vaccine is a significant development for the pig breeding sector in Vietnam, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.
Tien said the success enhances the prestige of Vietnamese breeding and veterinary medicine globally. More than 50 percent of farms in Vietnam are small scale, so vaccines are critical to protect the industry, which is the engine of the middle class. This is also a chance for Vietnam to export vaccines to other countries, he said, adding that many countries have contacted the ministry and showed interest in the new developments.
The successful production of African swine fever vaccine as well as other veterinary treatments reveals Vietnam’s ever-increasing capacity in veterinary medicine, he stated.
Disinfecting a farm in Bac Ninh (Photo: VNA)
With the production of NAVET-ASFVAC, a product of Navetco National Veterinary Joint Stock Company, Vietnam has become the first country to develop a commercial vaccine against African swine fever that delivers 6 months of immunity and meets the technical requirements of the industry.
The vaccine was developed from a genetically modified strain of the virus by deleting the previously uncharacterised gene, I177L.
Tien said that the ministry will closely supervise the pilot injection of 600,000 doses of the vaccine before allowing it to be used across the country.
Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that vaccination will be a key measure to ensure the food chain, while paving the way for Vietnam to successfully implement the livestock development strategy in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2045.
African swine fever is a contagious and deadly viral disease affecting swine of all ages. The disease was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019. Within seven months, it spread to all 63 cities and provinces in the country, forcing the nation to kill around 6 million pigs, or 20 percent of the total hog herd. The total losses of the debacle were estimated at 30 trillion VND (1.29 billion USD)./.
Vietnam has become the first country in the world to successfully research and produce a vaccine against African swine fever (ASF), and licence its commercial circulation.
Two more vaccines against African swine fever (ASF), developed by AVAC Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Dabaco Group JSC, are expected to be licensed in Vietnam by the end of this year.
Vietnam will contribute to preventing a disease that is very destructive to livestock, said the French daily newspaper Le Figaro regarding the Southeast Asian nation’s announcement of becoming the first in the world to successfully research and produce an African swine fever vaccine and license it for commercial circulation.
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Vietnam has become the first country to successfully produce African swine fever vaccine. (Photo: VNA)
Disinfecting a farm in Bac Ninh (Photo: VNA)
