The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee is responsible for the results of swine fever prevention and control.

Nghe An bridge participated in the online conference chaired by comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the online conference this morning, March 4, in Hanoi. Photo source: Agriculture Newspaper

The epidemic occurred in 7 provinces and cities, destroying 4,200 pigs.

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of March 3, African swine fever had occurred in 33 communes and 14 districts of 7 provinces and cities including Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Thanh Hoa. The total number of infected and destroyed pigs was over 4,200 with a total weight of nearly 300 tons.

This is a dangerous disease caused by a virus, the death rate of infected pigs can be up to 100%, the disease spreads quickly, causing great damage. The most worrying thing is that there is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease or medicine to treat it.

Panoramic view of Nghe An bridge. Photo: Phu Huong

In Nghe An, since September 2018, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a telegram on proactively preventing the risk of African swine fever infection. Disease prevention measures have been seriously implemented by relevant agencies, localities and farmers. Up to now, African swine fever has not appeared in Nghe An, but has appeared in Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province, so the threat to the pig farming industry in Nghe An is very high.

The entire political system is urgently involved in fighting the epidemic.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized: All levels, localities, the entire political system and livestock farmers must seriously and effectively implement Directive 04/CT-TTg dated February 20, 2019 of the Prime Minister on synchronously implementing urgent solutions to control African swine fever; not considering this as the sole task of the veterinary sector; provinces and cities that have not yet had the epidemic must have strong and synchronous prevention and control measures to prevent the epidemic from spreading into the area.

Farmers sprinkle lime powder right outside the farm gate to proactively prevent epidemics. Photo: Quang An

"The entire political system must get involved,"The Chairman of the People's Committee of a province or centrally-run city must be responsible before the law and the Prime Minister for the results of epidemic prevention and control in the locality under his management," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directed.

The Prime Minister also requested: It is necessary to raise awareness to take action, be more drastic, more synchronous, more vigilant, not subjective in disease prevention but also not cause panic, avoid the case of consumers "turning their backs" on the livestock industry. At the same time, control well but do not prohibit the transportation of pigs and pork products, affecting the pig farming industry and the economic development of farmers.

Nghe An livestock farmers need to seriously implement recommended disease prevention solutions. Photo: Phu Huong

The Prime Minister also requested all levels, sectors and localities to study and review the actual situation to advise the Government on appropriate adjustments in regulations on support levels and resources to support the fight against the epidemic. At the same time, control and supervise implementation to ensure good implementation of state policies.

While the epidemic has only recently appeared in the northern provinces, localities need to have solutions to effectively control the source of pigs and pig products transported to the south; proactively allocate reserve funds to do a good job of fighting the epidemic. Livestock farmers must practice the “5 no’s” in epidemic prevention.

At the Conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong received the Prime Minister's direction and proposed to the heads of ministries, branches, and localities solutions to prevent and control the epidemic in the coming time.