Set up 8 more African swine fever quarantine checkpoints in the Quynh Luu epidemic area

According to records, the first outbreak in Nghe An occurred in Quynh My commune (Quynh Luu). The location of the outbreak area is adjacent to many neighboring communes; especially with National Highway 48B passing through, measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic are very urgent.

Mr. Le Xuan Thanh - Chairman of Quynh My Commune People's Committee said that the locality was the first place where African swine fever appeared in the province, so the commune has drastically implemented control and prevention work to every hamlet, village and household. After Quynh Luu District People's Committee announced the swine fever epidemic in the area, the commune directed dozens of police officers to be present at 2 quarantine checkpoints near the affected households to spray disinfectants and control passing vehicles to prevent the disease from spreading.

Along National Highway 48B through Quynh Luu district, communes in threatened areas organized prevention and disinfection spraying. Photo: Viet Hung

"Currently, the whole commune has a total herd of 400 pigs. We are directing the commune's veterinary department to complete disinfection spraying at the households, especially the two households adjacent to the epidemic site with a total herd of about 30 pigs. We encourage our brothers in the police force to actively guard the checkpoints day and night to quarantine, determined not to let the outbreak spread" - Mr. Le Xuan Thanh said.

Located adjacent to the epidemic area and also having National Highway 48B passing through, Ngoc Son commune is an area threatened by African swine fever... It is known that Ngoc Son commune currently has a total herd of nearly 750 pigs, of which about 3-4 households raise pigs for commercial purposes. When hearing that the neighboring commune had an epidemic, the households are focusing on prevention.

Mr. Bui Van Hung's family is the household with the largest herd of pigs in the commune, with more than 100 pigs. On March 14, after Quynh Luu district announced the outbreak of African swine fever in Quynh My commune, his family proactively bought 2 liters of chemicals and 2 kg of lime powder to spray disinfectant around the barn.

Ngoc Son Commune (Quynh Luu) established two checkpoints adjacent to National Highway 48B and Quynh Lam Commune to control vehicles entering and leaving the area. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Hung said: "African swine fever spreads in many ways and is very complicated. Therefore, the family is looking for ways to care for and protect the livestock. For now, the family does not allow strangers to enter the livestock area. If necessary, they must spray disinfectant before entering. The family also hopes that the relevant authorities will pay attention and regularly be present at large livestock households to provide disease prevention instructions."

In order to control the spread of African swine fever, Ngoc Son commune has proactively set up two checkpoints in the area adjacent to the epidemic outbreak in Quynh My commune and the checkpoint in Quynh Lam commune. In addition, the commune allocated funds to buy 700 kg of lime powder and 20 liters of chemicals to implement epidemic prevention. This morning (March 15), the commune mobilized 20 police officers to sprinkle lime at the two checkpoints and spray disinfectant.

Cau Giat town established a quarantine checkpoint on National Highway 48B bordering Quynh My commune. Photo: Thanh Toan

Mr. Ho Van Lap - Chairman of Ngoc Son Commune People's Committee said that as soon as Quynh Luu district announced the epidemic, the Commune People's Committee developed a plan, established a Steering Committee according to the district's request and organized propaganda on commune and hamlet loudspeakers so that livestock farming households would know and proactively prevent it.

"Although there is no epidemic in the area, we have established a working group to prevent African swine fever; directed the commune police to arrange forces to block 2 quarantine points, assigning 3 shifts/day to control traffic passing through" - Mr. Lap added.

According to statistics, the whole Quynh Luu district has a total herd of 42,000 pigs, mainly concentrated in Quynh Tam, Tan Son, Quynh Hong communes... Up to this point, the total amount of chemicals sprayed for disinfection is 600 liters, in Quynh My commune alone (epidemic area), an additional 36 liters are being provided to continue spraying at livestock households.

Spraying disinfectant in livestock farming areas in Cau Giat town (Quynh Luu). Photo: Thanh Toan

Mr. Dau Duc Nam - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said: On the morning of March 15, in addition to the 2 checkpoints in the epidemic area of ​​Quynh My commune, neighboring communes have set up 8 more checkpoints in Quynh Lam, Quynh Hoa communes, Cau Giat town, and Ngoc Son to control passing vehicles.

The district focused on directing the district veterinary station and 33 communes and towns to propagate on loudspeakers to inform people about disease prevention; at the same time, directing communes in threatened areas to establish disinfection spraying teams, receive chemicals; assigning forces to be on duty 24/7 at checkpoints until the end of the epidemic is announced.

"The district will coordinate with the district police to inspect and control vehicles transporting animals through National Highway 1A, 48B and Provincial Road 537B. We will focus on control and quarantine and are determined not to let African swine fever spread widely," Mr. Dau Duc Nam added.