African swine fever recurs in Nghe An due to people sharing pigs during Tet

On the morning of February 4, we were present at Dien Kim commune of Dien Chau district, which is the current "hot spot" of Nghe An regarding African swine fever. On the main road of the commune, the locality has set up 2 quarantine checkpoints. Despite the pouring rain, the checkpoint staff were always present to perform their duties, all means and tools for epidemic prevention: sprayers, chemicals, lime powder... were ready.

Mr. Pham Xuan Bang - Chairman of Dien Kim Commune People's Committee said: This morning, 3 families in the commune reported that their pigs were infected with the disease. The locality sent a destruction team to the site to inspect and prepare documents to destroy the pigs according to regulations.

On the morning of February 4, the authorities of Dien Kim commune destroyed 3 pigs of 3 families in the commune infected with African swine fever. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The Chairman of the Commune People's Committee added: This is the third outbreak of African swine fever in Dien Kim commune in 2019 and the first month of 2020. This third outbreak occurred from January 26 (the second day of Tet), when people in Dai Thanh hamlet reported that pigs were sick and dead, the commune leaders considered Tet lost because they had to mobilize human resources to destroy the pigs. Over the past 8 days, the number of dead pigs has gradually increased.

Statistics show that by February 4, the entire commune had 87 pigs from 9/9 hamlets infected with the disease that had to be destroyed, including 23 sows, with a total weight of 3,466 kg. If including the previous two waves, up to this point, the commune has had 12 tons of pigs destroyed.

Currently, the locality has received 36 liters of chemicals from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station and 2 tons of lime powder from the District People's Committee to serve the work of disease prevention and control. Accordingly, the commune organizes chemical spraying every 2 days, with the support of Dien Thanh Border Guard Station. The commune is preparing a request to provide an additional 30 liters of disinfectant chemicals to households raising pigs to prevent disease at home.

The reason for the outbreak in Dien Kim commune may be that during the recent Tet holiday, people bought pigs to slaughter together, unfortunately bought infected pigs, causing the outbreak to re-emerge. Currently, the commune is assigning hamlets to count the number of pigs in the commune, and at the same time, propagandizing to people not to re-herd and actively prevent the epidemic.

Mr. Pham Xuan Bang - Chairman of Dien Kim Commune People's Committee

Epidemic prevention and control work is being carried out synchronously in Dien Kim commune. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Vu Van Thanh, the owner of a pig infected with the disease, had to destroy it on the morning of February 4. He was sad: The family only has one pregnant sow, which stopped eating 2 days ago and died on the evening of February 3. This morning, the local authorities and veterinary agencies came to make a record for destruction, weighing 94 kg. The commune distributed lime powder for the family to sprinkle in front of the gate, and organized chemical spraying in the entire garden and livestock barn area of ​​the family.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Bon - Head of the Dien Chau District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, Dien Kim commune is a locality that is concerned about disease prevention and control for livestock. However, the occurrence of African swine fever like this may be due to people buying pigs together to slaughter during Tet, unfortunately buying infected pigs, creating an opportunity for the disease to break out. In the condition of sudden changes in weather, especially showers, it is an opportunity for pathogens to spread, so the station has sent staff to coordinate with the commune to implement solutions to prevent and control the disease. Thus, Dien Chau has 3 communes that have not passed 30 days of the epidemic: Dien Cat, Dien Loc and Dien Kim. Of which, Dien Kim commune is the "hottest" with an increasing number of infected pigs.

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said that currently in the province there are 18 communes that have not passed 30 days of the epidemic, of which Dien Kim commune (Dien Chau) is the "hottest", because the number of infected pigs has increased rapidly in a short time.