Dien Chau has not strictly controlled slaughter in epidemic areas.

Although African swine fever is currently spreading in the area, some markets in Dien Truong (Dien Chau) still sell unquarantined pork. Photo taken on the afternoon of May 9. Photo: Viet Hung

Dien Truong Commune is the fourth locality of Dien Chau district to have African swine fever outbreak at the household of Mr. Nguyen Van Suu in hamlet 15; total

The pigs that had to be destroyed weighed 269 kg. After the outbreak of African swine fever, on May 8, the People's Committee of Dien Chau district issued a decision to declare the epidemic in Dien Truong commune.

However, on the afternoon of May 9, we were present at some markets in Dien Truong commune and came across 3 pork selling points in hamlets 15 and 9, located about 300 meters from the commune People's Committee headquarters. According to observations, the pork sold here did not have quarantine stamps from the authorities.

Pork selling points are concentrated at the crossroads market in hamlets 9 and 15. Photo taken on the afternoon of May 9. Photo: Viet Hung

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a pork stall owner at the market at the intersection of Hamlet 9, said: "Today we slaughtered a pig weighing nearly 100 kg and sold it by late afternoon, leaving about 20 kg. The area has just had an epidemic, but no one has reminded us yet, so we still slaughtered and sold it."

When mentioning the fact that people still sell pork at markets while the commune is having African swine fever, Ms. Dinh Thanh Nga - veterinary officer of Dien Truong commune said that she will immediately go to check and remind households that slaughter and sell pork, requiring them to comply with the provisions of the law; only when the conditions are met can they be slaughtered and sold again.

There are currently 3 pig slaughterhouses in the commune, all of which do not have food hygiene and safety certificates. Regarding the issue of pig origin quarantine, the commune veterinary department has not been able to do it, most households slaughter and sell on the market.

Ms. Dinh Thanh Nga - veterinary officer of Dien Truong commune, Dien Chau district

Dien Truong is the fourth locality in Dien Chau to have an outbreak of swine fever in just the first 9 days of May. If Dien Chau district does not take drastic measures to prevent the disease, the spread of swine fever is very worrying.

Dien Truong commune where the fourth outbreak occurred in Dien Chau district. Photo: Google Maps

According to regulations, after a locality announces African swine fever, it is strictly forbidden to transport pigs and pig products in and out of epidemic areas or areas threatened by the epidemic. For adult pigs or in cases where pig farm owners need to slaughter pigs, they are allowed to slaughter pigs under the supervision of veterinary staff, provided that the test results are negative for African swine fever.

Pork and pork products are only allowed to be consumed within epidemic areas, epidemic-threatened areas, and buffer zones.