African swine fever outbreak in mountainous district of Nghe An

Mr. Nong Van Huan - Chairman of Chau Thon Commune People's Committee said: African swine fever re-emerged in the district since September 7, in Lam village residential group, Hung Tien hamlet.

Up to now, the epidemic has spread to many other villages. As of September 17, Chau Thon commune hasdestroy92 pigs, with a total weight of 4,268 kg. In Chau Thon commune, there are currently 522 households raising pigs, with a total herd of 2,072 pigs.

Epidemic control checkpoint in Chau Thon commune. Photo: Quang An

The family with the heaviest loss was Mr. Luong Thanh Quy's household in Lam village, who destroyed 8 pigs, weighing 734 kg. Mr. Quy said that the price of live pigs is now 160,000 VND/kg, and he thought his family would have a stable income, but unexpectedly the epidemic broke out, forcing him to destroy the entire herd of pigs, causing his family tens of millions of VND in damage.

Currently, the family uses lime powder mixed with water to sweep and sprinkle inside and outside the barn area, and regularly sprays disinfectant chemicals, so that when the locality controls the epidemic, livestock can be raised again.

People of Lam village, Chau Thon commune take measures to prevent and control African swine fever. Photo: Xuan Hoang

"Implementing the district's drastic direction, immediately after the outbreak, the commune set up checkpoints.epidemic control, the district provided 8 tons of lime powder and 60 liters of chemicals to villages and hamlets to organize continuous spraying of disinfectants for 10 consecutive days, and sprinkle lime powder in pig farms. The commune has mobilized the entire political system to participate in epidemic prevention" - Mr. Nong Van Huan said.

According to Mr. Huan, the cause of the recurrence of African swine fever may be because in the commune there are two pork selling points, every day they bring meat from the lowlands to sell, creating a source of infection from here.

All vehicles traveling from other localities to the epidemic area in Que Phong are sprayed with disinfectant chemicals. Photo: Quang An

Data of the People's CommitteeQue Phong districtshows that, as of September 17, in the district, there were 3 communes with re-outbreaks of African swine fever including: Chau Thon, Quang Phong and Chau Kim, the number of pigs destroyed was 118, with a total weight of 4,809 kg.

After the outbreak, Que Phong district set up 4 epidemic control checkpoints on main roads through the communes of Chau Kim, Chau Thon, Tri Le, Nam Nhoong and Quang Phong, assigning the communes to assign forces to guard 24/7.

Recording the work of preventing and fighting African swine fever in Que Phong district shows that at epidemic control checkpoints, localities have arranged barriers, disinfecting tarpaulins, temporary tents, lighting and adequate supplies, and regularly assigned guards.

Que Phong district is making efforts to prevent and control the epidemic to protect the pig herd. Photo: Xuan Hoang

During this outbreak, Que Phong district allocated the budget to buy 20 tons of lime powder and many other materials, and the province provided 90 liters of disinfectant chemicals.

"The district has assigned relevant units and departments to regularly inspect and urge epidemic prevention work in localities. The district focuses all available resources to control the epidemic as soon as possible, in order to protect the local specialty pig herd," said Chairman of the district People's Committee Le Van Giap.