African swine fever re-emerged in Dien Chau due to people re-herding their own herds.

Just released the fry and the disease has recurred.

On December 25, an outbreak of African swine fever occurred at the family farm of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Toan in Hamlet 9, Dien Lien Commune (Dien Chau). Mr. Cao Van Duong, Mrs. Toan's husband, said: The family's herd of 200 pigs has just been re-herded for more than 10 days. The origin of the breeding pigs was purchased from a pig farm in Ha Tinh province. When selling, this facility had a negative test certificate for African swine fever.

The 200-pig herd of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Toan's family in Hamlet 9, Dien Lien Commune, had just been re-herded for 10 days when an epidemic broke out. Photo: Xuan Hoang

However, after 10 days of raising the pigs, some of them showed signs of illness. On December 23, the family reported to the veterinary agency to take samples for testing, and the results were positive for African swine fever. On December 25, the local authorities of Dien Lien commune and the Dien Chau district Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station proceeded to destroy all 200 pigs of Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan's family.

At the same time, in Dien Van commune (Dien Chau), there was also a resurgence of African swine fever at Mrs. Pham Thi Dan's household in Trung Phu hamlet. It is known that Mrs. Dan's family also re-raised herds more than 10 days earlier, but did not report it to the local authorities. Dien Van commune is the locality with the first outbreak in Dien Chau district.

Professional agencies and local authorities destroyed the pigs of Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan's family. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Unlike other households in Dien Chau, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa in Long Minh hamlet, Minh Son commune (Do Luong) was more careful before re-herding. Mr. Hoa said that his family's pig farm was infected with the disease in early April, but after 4 months of raising 5 pigs on trial, the disease still recurred. This proves that the pathogen still exists in the barn. Therefore, Mr. Hoa's family has not dared to re-herd, but continues to sprinkle lime powder and spray disinfectants.

Absolutely no support

Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dien Chau district said: In Dien Chau district, there have just been 2 new outbreaks at 2 households: Nguyen Thi Toan in hamlet 9, Dien Lien commune and Pham Thi Dan in Trung Phu hamlet, Dien Van commune.

It is worth mentioning that these two households did not declare to the local authorities before re-herding. According to regulations, in the current situation where African swine fever has not ended, before re-herding, the family must declare to the local authorities.

The pig farm of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Toan's family in hamlet 9, Dien Lien commune is isolated in the field. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Accordingly, local authorities and specialized agencies will check whether the barns ensure biosecurity, then check the origin of the breeding stock and confirm that the samples are negative for African swine fever at the place of departure and destination. If the disease prevention factors are ensured, the household will be allowed to re-herd.

After receiving the information, the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development went to the scene to make a record and resolutely refused to make a record to receive support under the State's policy for the above two households.

In Dien Chau, since the outbreak of the epidemic, these are the first two households to repopulate their herds without reporting to the local authorities. Currently, the District People's Committee has directed localities to step up propaganda work to the people about the regulations on repopulating pigs according to Directive 19 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Dien Chau district

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said: According to the recommendation of the Veterinary sector, households that are qualified to re-herd, for the first time should only try to raise 10% of the scale of the barn, if the barn is stable, then re-herd in large numbers.

However, apart from the two households in Dien Chau that have just had a re-epidemic, there have been no similar cases in other districts. In accordance with Directive No. 19 dated November 14, 2019, localities must resolutely not prepare support records for households that re-herd without reporting to local authorities.

"Although the epidemic is decreasing sharply, the risk of re-epidemic is high, because the situation of people re-raising herds without declaring to local authorities still exists," Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh worried.

According to Directive No. 19 dated November 14, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee on focusing on drastic and synchronous implementation of solutions to prevent and control livestock and poultry diseases in the winter-spring crop, absolutely do not re-herd for small-scale livestock, households, and those that do not meet biosafety livestock conditions. Encourage the development of other suitable livestock breeds such as: Buffalo, cow, goat, poultry... Any household that re-herds pigs without the consent of the local authorities will not be supported when there is an epidemic.