24 communes of 10 districts in Nghe An still have African swine fever

Faced with the complicated developments of livestock diseases, on the morning of February 14, the Provincial People's Committee held an online conference with 21 districts, towns and cities on urgent implementation of solutions to prevent avian influenza, African swine fever and other livestock diseases. Comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the conference; Comrade Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development co-chaired the conference.

Nghe An bridge participating in the online conference. Photo: Xuan Hoang

24 communes still have swine fever; 4 communes have H5N6 avian influenza

According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghe An, in the province, African swine fever from March 12, 2019 to February 11, 2020 occurred in 21,169 households, 2,541 hamlets, 367 communes, 21 districts, cities and towns. The total number of pigs culled was 94,699 (accounting for about 10.12% of the total pig herd in the province), with a total weight of 4,785,912 kg (accounting for 3.63% of the total output of live weight meat for slaughter). There are currently 24 communes in 10 districts and towns where the epidemic has not passed 30 days.

Comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the conference. Photo: Xuan Hoang

From the beginning of January 2020 to now, the number of households with the epidemic is 177 households, 694 pigs have been destroyed; of which the epidemic recurred in 5 communes; there are 3 farms in 2 communes of Dien Lien, Dien Van (Dien Chau) and Phu Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) where people arbitrarily re-herded when they did not meet the conditions for disease-safe livestock facilities.

Besides, avian influenza A/H5N6 is resurfacing in some localities.In 2019, it occurred in 04 households in 4 hamlets of 04 communes of 02 districts, including: Yen Thanh district (01 household with A/H5N1 epidemic) and Quynh Luu district (03 households in 03 communes with A/H5N6 epidemic).

Mr. Le Dinh Hue - Deputy Head of the Veterinary Department of Region 3, said: Nghe An has a large number of small-scale livestock farming practices, especially a large number of ducks raised in the fields, while there are many canal systems, people often dump animal carcasses, so disease outbreaks are likely to occur. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Currently, there are 6 households with A/H5N6 avian influenza outbreaks in 4 hamlets in 4 communes in less than 21 days in Quynh Luu district. Specifically: Quynh Hong commune (02 households), Quynh Ba commune (01 household), Quynh Hau (02 households), Quynh Hung (01 household).

Currently, there is no FMD epidemic in the province.

The causes of recent livestock epidemics are identified as follows: Dangerous pathogens are widely circulating in livestock and in the livestock environment; Seasonal changes, cold rain, high humidity reduce the resistance of livestock, creating favorable conditions for pathogens to develop and cause disease.

The direction of epidemic prevention by Party committees and authorities in some localities has not been really drastic. Some livestock farmers arbitrarily increase and restore their herds when their facilities do not meet the requirements for disease-safe livestock farming.

Destroying poultry infected with avian influenza A/H5N6 in Quynh Luu district recently. Photo: Xuan Hoang

For avian influenza outbreaks, they occur mainly due to unvaccinated poultry flocks and unsanitary farming conditions.

Destroying infected pigs in Dien Chau district. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Do not be negligent when an epidemic occurs.

Through sharing experiences on disease prevention in livestock at the following locations: Nam Dan, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Do Luong, Que Phong and departments and branches, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh said that the types of diseases in livestock that have occurred and are occurring in the province have caused great damage to the economy of the people and the state.

In the coming time, localities must focus on disease prevention in livestock. Do not let the disease spread widely, strengthen the direction according to the province's direction scenario.

In particular, districts focus on vaccination against spring epidemics for livestock.

Besides, sectors and localities need to plan reasonable livestock farming areas to manage the environment and prevent diseases.

Localities must strengthen disease surveillance and not be negligent when an epidemic occurs in livestock; strictly manage herd growth in the area and maintain the Bac Nghe An Animal Quarantine Station./.