The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just issued a Directive to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities on focusing on drastic and synchronous implementation of measures to prevent and control livestock and poultry diseases in the 2020-2021 Winter-Spring crop.

The risk of disease in the 2020-2021 Winter-Spring crop is very high.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reports from localities and results of proactive monitoring of dangerous animal diseases from the beginning of 2020 to present show:

SickAfrican swine fever(DTLCP) has occurred in more than 1,500 communes of 50 provinces and cities. The DTLCP virus is likely to still circulate and exist in the environment and pig herds.

African swine fever pathogens still remain in the environment. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Avian influenza (AI) occurred in 84 communes of 28 provinces and cities, nearly 2 times higher than in 2019. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred in 194 communes of 24 provinces and cities. Blue ear disease occurred in 5 communes of 2 provinces.

From mid-October 2020 until now, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle and buffaloes has appeared for the first time in Vietnam, and has occurred in over 83 communes, 33 districts of 10 provinces and cities, causing a total of over 1,100 buffaloes and cows to be infected, of which over 170 died and had to be destroyed.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development assessed that the risk of dangerous epidemics in livestock herds in late 2020 and early 2021 (Winter-Spring crop) is very high due to activities.trade, transport, slaughterThe number of animals has increased sharply to meet the demand before, during and after the Lunar New Year. Vaccination of livestock in some localities has not been fully implemented, and the vaccination rate is low.

The work of proactively monitoring and detecting epidemics is still very limited, many places have not grasped the epidemic situation in a timely manner, and are slow to report the epidemic situation. The handling of outbreaks has not been carried out decisively and thoroughly, and has not ensured the correct technical requirements. The direction of epidemic prevention and control in some localities has not received due attention, there is a lack of inspection, urging, and supervision of implementation at the grassroots level, leading to prolonged epidemics and a high risk of widespread spread.

In addition, seasonal changes in weather reduce the resistance of livestock and create favorable conditions for pathogens to survive, spread widely and cause epidemics.

A/H5N6 flu outbreak in Dien Chau. Photo: Quang An

Strictly handle the concealment of epidemics and hoarding of vaccines

In order to proactively organize good control, prevent dangerous epidemics from occurring widely, ensure food supply, and ensure food safety before, during and after Tet, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct local departments, branches, and authorities at all levels to focus resources and urgently and drastically deploy synchronous measures to prevent and control epidemics in accordance with regulations.