Proactively prevent the risk of African swine fever infection

Faced with that reality, Nghe An Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Dang Van Minh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Veterinary Department about solutions to prevent and control epidemics in Nghe An province.

Reporter: Sir! Has the current complicated situation of African swine fever reached an alarming level?

Mr. Dang Van Minh:According to information from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), since 2017, 20 countries have reported African swine fever, with the total number of pigs forced to be destroyed exceeding 1 million.

In China, from August 3, 2018 to February 18, 2019, 105 outbreaks were detected in 25 provinces, with 950,000 infected pigs having to be destroyed; many of these outbreaks occurred in Yunnan and Guangdong provinces bordering Vietnam.

Image of infected pigscholera(Illustration)

Nationwide, according to official information from the Department of Animal Health, as of February 24, 2019, there were 11 outbreaks (households) of African swine fever in 4 provinces: Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa (including 1 outbreak in Hung Yen city and 1 in Yen My district, Hung Yen province; 6 outbreaks in Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province; 1 outbreak in Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province; 2 outbreaks in Thuy Nguyen district - Hai Phong); the total number of sick pigs that had to be destroyed was 521.The epidemic is spreading and evolving very complicatedly...

African swine fever is a dangerous infectious disease caused by a virus that spreads very quickly among pigs (including domestic pigs and wild pigs); occurs in all ages and types of pigs, causing very serious damage with a high mortality rate of up to 100%.

The virus is highly resistant to the environment; after recovering from clinical illness, pigs can still carry the virus for a long time, so if an epidemic occurs, it is very difficult to eliminate the pathogen, and the pathogen can survive in the farming environment for many years.

Currently there is no vaccine or specific treatment for African swine fever, so disease prevention is the main solution.

Reporter: Currently, an outbreak has been discovered in Thanh Hoa, right next to Nghe An. That raises the question of how much more attention should be paid to the prevention of this dangerous disease, sir?

Mr. Dang Van Minh:Nghe An has many national and provincial highways passing through it, the transportation of pigs and pig products passes through most districts, cities and towns and is difficult to control.

At markets, pig and pig product collection points, there are almost no separate trading areas for management; in addition to centralized slaughterhouses, small-scale slaughtering without veterinary control is still common. Therefore, the risk of African swine fever spreading into the province is very high.

Pig farm of Mr. Nguyen Ha Trung's family in Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan) Photo: Phu Huong

Accordingly, all levels of the industry have increased propaganda about the situation, characteristics, harms of the epidemic and solutions at the grassroots level. Farmers regularly monitor the health of their pigs to promptly detect and report to the commune authorities and district and commune veterinary authorities any cases of sick or suspected sick pigs for handling.

At the same time, establish an interdisciplinary team to strengthen inspection and control of the transportation of pigs, pig products, collection sites, slaughterhouses, etc. Strictly handle violations. When an epidemic occurs, it is necessary to concentrate all resources and mobilize the entire political system to handle and quickly extinguish the epidemic on a small scale.

In addition, we also directed veterinary stations to coordinate with localities to strengthen inspection and control of pig transportation and slaughter, and grasp the situation to promptly handle epidemics when they occur.

Spraying disinfectant on vehicles entering and leaving a pig farm in Tien Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Phu Huong

However, in the current situation where there is no vaccine to prevent and cure the disease, the best solution is for people to practice bio-security in livestock farming. The livestock area must be far from the house, have a fence separating it from other areas and limit the entry of strangers; there must be a disinfection pit in front of the gate and in each row of barns; livestock equipment and livestock areas must be regularly and periodically disinfected; waste must be collected and treated with appropriate measures.

At the same time, when buying breeding animals, it is necessary to clearly understand the origin and have them fully vaccinated; before entering the herd, they must be quarantined according to regulations; control food, supplies and livestock equipment brought into the farm; do not let wild birds, rodents, dogs, cats and strangers enter the breeding area, to avoid spreading pathogens to the pig herd.

PV: Thank you!