Need for synchronous prevention

(Baonghean) -From March 6, 2013 to March 10, 2013, blue ear disease in pigs occurred in Phu Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). This is the first outbreak this year, and according to experts, the risk of the outbreak becoming a large-scale epidemic is entirely possible.

The epidemic occurred in pig herds of 27 households in Trung Lai, Nam Lai, Dong Lai and Tan Lai hamlets (Phu Thanh commune). On March 8, 63 sick pigs of Phu Thanh commune (17 sows, 46 pigs), with a total weight of over 4,700 kg, were destroyed according to regulations, under the supervision of the district and commune authorities and specialized agencies. Most recently, on March 11, 2013, in the "neighboring" commune of Tho Thanh, a new outbreak of blue ear disease occurred. On March 12, 2013, Yen Thanh district coordinated with veterinary agencies to continue destroying the sick pigs that had appeared in Phu Thanh and Tho Thanh communes.

To prevent the epidemic, quarantine checkpoints for livestock entering and leaving Phu Thanh commune were promptly established to prevent the transportation of livestock in and out of the epidemic area, reducing the risk of spreading the disease to other localities. Along with organizing urgent measures to prevent blue ear disease, the district assigned officials in charge of each area and each commune cluster to direct, inspect and urge localities to organize and implement epidemic prevention, especially in high-risk areas. The provincial Veterinary Department also sent officials to coordinate with Yen Thanh district to strengthen the direction of Phu Thanh and Tho Thanh communes to resolutely implement epidemic prevention measures. In addition, the district radio and television system and radio stations of communes and towns have promoted information and propaganda about the epidemic situation, so that people can proactively prevent and control the epidemic.

In fact, the measures to prevent blue ear disease in Yen Thanh have been implemented quite effectively. The results of epidemic monitoring have been reported promptly to be able to handle the outbreak in a small area. Mr. Nguyen Khac Minh (Head of the District Veterinary Station) said: The Veterinary Department has provided 4,000 doses of Blue Ear vaccine to inject around the outbreak, provided 250 liters of chemicals to spray to disinfect the epidemic area and communes in the threatened epidemic area, high-risk areas. Yen Thanh district has also supported funding to buy lime powder to spread along the main traffic routes in the epidemic area, livestock areas, pig culling pits, and quarantine posts. At the same time, it has mobilized livestock households to clean up, compost, spray disinfectants, and spread lime powder around the barn area to destroy pathogens. The communes with the epidemic have also organized the establishment of temporary quarantine posts on the main roads in and out of the epidemic area to prevent the transportation of pigs and pig products in and out of the epidemic area, limiting the risk of spreading the disease.

According to Mr. Dang Van Minh (Deputy Head of the Provincial Veterinary Department), this is the first outbreak of blue ear disease this year, but it is also an old outbreak in 2011, occurring in pigs that have not been vaccinated against blue ear disease and spreading very quickly. The area where the epidemic occurred is the key sow breeding area of ​​Yen Thanh district, with many roads and canals running through it, plus the habit of small-scale transportation and slaughter, and high breeding density. With over 80 thousand pigs, Yen Thanh is considered a locality with a large livestock herd, and borders Quynh Luu, Do Luong, and Dien Chau districts, which are also key breeding districts of the province. Regarding the weather, it is currently the time of changing seasons with erratic rain and sunshine, high humidity, directly affecting the resistance of livestock, pathogens easily develop, making the risk of the epidemic spreading widely in Yen Thanh district as well as surrounding localities very high. Localities with epidemics need to establish and maintain effective checkpoints to prevent people from bringing pigs and pig products into and out of epidemic areas, and temporarily suspend the slaughter, trade, and transportation of pigs and pig products in epidemic areas and areas threatened by the epidemic.

It is known that the Provincial People's Committee has sent a document requesting the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to support 40,000 doses of vaccine to urgently prevent the epidemic. The Provincial Veterinary Department has also submitted to the Provincial People's Committee funding to purchase 50,000 doses of JAX1-R vaccine to prevent the epidemic in the epidemic area and the area threatened by the blue ear disease. The Provincial People's Committee has also issued a Decision to declare the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (blue ear disease) epidemic in Phu Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district.

Phu Huong