Inspectors cull illegally imported pigs to prevent the spread of African swine fever. (Source: laodong.vn)Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchas asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), relevantagencies and localities to take prompt measures to control African swine fever(ASF) in Vietnam.
PM Phuc ordered chairmen of provincial and municipalpeople’s committees to issue instructions and treat all the affected areascompletely to prevent new cases. Steering committees must be founded withdetailed duties for every member to improve inspections and supervision.
The steering committees must keep a close watch on bordergates and slaughterhouses, and educate local people on preventive measures.
PM Phuc asked MARD to coordinate with concernedorganisations to supervise the epidemic, especially in neighbouring countries,to provide proper treatments. The ministry is responsible for connecting withrelevant international organisations and foreign countries to carry out jointmeasures to prevent the spread of the disease.
The National Steering Committee Against Smuggling,Trade Frauds and Counterfeiting Goods (often called National SteeringCommittee 389) must issue strict fines to anyone who illegally transports sickpigs from other countries into Vietnam.
The ministries of transport, defence, industry and trade andinformation and communications must join work together on preventive measuresand educating local residents.
Cases of ASF have occurred in 20 countries and more than1.08 million pigs have been culled to prevent its spread, according to theWorld Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
From August 3, 2018 to February 17 this year, more than 100outbreaks occurred in 25 provinces and cities in China, including Yunnan andGuangdong provinces near Vietnam’s border, according to OIE. More than 950,000pigs were culled.
In Vietnam, AFS was discovered in the northern provinces ofHung Yen and Thai Binh.
To prevent the disease from spreading, the Department ofAnimal Health on February 21 assigned eight laboratories across the country toadminister free-of-charge gene tests for ASF.
Pham Van Dong, director of the department, said the quickand exact gene tests were an effective step in preventing and controlling thedisease, as well as limited economic losses and environmental impacts.-VNA
VNA
