Spending 2.2 billion VND on prevention, Yen Thanh is still ravaged by African swine fever

Destroying infected pigs in Tho Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The first outbreak of African swine fever occurred in Yen Thanh district on May 27, in hamlet 7, Tho Thanh commune. After 2 months, the epidemic broke out in 31 communes, with a total of 1,889 pigs having to be destroyed, weighing over 93 tons. Compared to other localities in the province, Yen Thanh has the most communes with the epidemic in the province.

To be proactive in epidemic prevention and control, Yen Thanh district has allocated 2.2 billion VND in reserve funds to buy lime powder, materials, tools... to support the checkpoints. Of which, 1 billion VND is from the district budget, the remaining 1.2 billion VND is from the localities.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district

Of the 31 communes with the epidemic, 7 communes have passed 30 days of the epidemic, including: Thinh Thanh, Tien Thanh, Minh Thanh, Khanh Thanh, Bao Thanh, Hoa Thanh and Xuan Thanh, of which 4 communes have announced the end of the epidemic.

An epidemic control checkpoint in Long Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Xuan Hoang

However, African swine fever is still complicated in some localities: Nhan Thanh, Dong Thanh, Phuc Thanh, Hau Thanh... Of which, as of July 25, Dong Thanh commune had 54 households with the epidemic; especially in Nhan Thanh commune, there were 131 households in 11 hamlets with African swine fever, with 542 pigs destroyed.

The epidemic is breaking out in some localities, affecting the district's livestock industry, especially many households have pigs ready to be sold but cannot sell them. Worryingly, many localities are discouraged and lax in disease prevention and control because the epidemic has been prolonged.

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said that in the province, there are currently some communes with very complicated outbreaks of African swine fever such as: Quynh Thanh (Quynh Luu), Nhan Thanh, Dong Thanh (Yen Thanh)... Mr. Quynh recommended that localities need to propagate to people to actively use lime powder sprinkled around barns, in front of house gates; at the same time spray disinfectants; should not use river water to water pigs; limit food sources from outside to feed pigs...