African swine fever outbreak in Chau Binh commune (Nghe An province)
As of July 29th, African swine fever is spreading rapidly and becoming more complex in Chau Binh commune, formerly Quy Chau district, causing significant economic losses for local pig farmers.
According to a report from the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee, the disease has broken out in 23 households across 5 villages: Ban Do 2, Ban Ke Can, Ban Ke Khoang, Ban Ke Mong, and Ban Ke Tam. A total of 56 pigs had to be culled, equivalent to nearly 3,514 kg of meat. This is an alarming figure, reflecting the rapid and dangerous spread of the disease among the local pig population.
According to Mr. Lo Van The, Chairman of the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee, the main reason for the outbreak was that the local pig herd had not been vaccinated against the disease, and many households were buying piglets and pork of unknown origin. Most of the people's livestock farms were small-scale, with barns that did not meet veterinary hygiene and isolation standards, making it easy for the disease to develop and spread.
According to Mr. The, people's awareness of disease prevention is still limited. Many households have not seriously implemented hygiene, disinfection, and sterilization measures as recommended. They have also not proactively spent money to buy lime powder and chemicals for disease prevention, leading to the livestock environment becoming a source of disease spread. More worryingly, most livestock farmers are not aware of the danger of African swine fever, as well as the heavy economic losses this disease causes.
Given the serious situation, the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune promptly issued a decision declaring an African swine fever outbreak throughout the commune. At the same time, the commune also proceeded to destroy the infected pigs in accordance with regulations, ensuring that the disease does not spread further.
Furthermore, starting from July 28th, local authorities established temporary quarantine checkpoints on major roads, maintaining 24/7 control over the transportation of pigs and pork products into and out of the affected area. The checkpoint personnel include police and local veterinarians. Each checkpoint is equipped with barriers, warning signs indicating the outbreak area, and disinfectant is sprayed on all passing vehicles. The checkpoint area is also lined with tarpaulins, covered with lime powder and dry straw, and disinfected with water to maintain humidity and minimize the spread of disease through transportation.
In addition, the People's Committee of the commune has temporarily suspended all transportation of pigs and pork products out of the affected area and halted slaughtering activities within the affected zone. However, according to reports, African swine fever is showing signs of spreading to neighboring communes such as Chau Tien and Quy Chau, requiring more coordinated and decisive action from all levels of government and the people.
In the coming period, Chau Binh commune will continue to strengthen propaganda and raise people's awareness of the dangers of the disease, while mobilizing the participation of departments and organizations to effectively prevent and control the epidemic, and prevent the risk of the disease spreading further.
