Nghe An: Many African swine fever checkpoints are deserted

The guard is absent.

At 1:50 p.m. on June 4, the checkpoint at Dien Yen commune (Dien Chau) was deserted. Even the disinfection pit was left with only traces. Photo: PV

At 2 p.m. on June 4, our group of reporters were present at many checkpoints to prevent African swine fever in some communes of Dien Chau and Quynh Luu districts and Hoang Mai town. Surprisingly, there were quite a few checkpoints without any staff on duty.

At the African swine fever checkpoint in hamlet 13, Dien Yen commune (Dien Chau), there was absolutely no one on duty.

Currently, the commune has set up 6 checkpoints to prevent the epidemic, with 12 police and military personnel on duty. Perhaps they were busy at that time and had to leave their posts, but the commune has instructed that the checkpoints must be on duty 24/7.

Mr. Duong Dang Hoang - Chairman of Dien Yen Commune People's Committee

At the same time, there was no one on duty at the checkpoint of Dien My commune. Photo: PV

The negligence and subjectivity of the checkpoint forces have created conditions for people to transport pigs in and out of the epidemic area. Photo: PV

At 2:00 p.m., we arrived at Dien My commune (Dien Chau). The situation of on-duty forces abandoning their duties at some checkpoints still occurred.

When contacted by reporters, Mr. Nguyen Van Tam - Chairman of Dien My Commune People's Committee, called to request the on-duty force to be present at the checkpoints. Mr. Tam said: Currently, the commune still has 5 checkpoints, with 12 people on duty, including military, police and organizations.

Currently, African swine fever has appeared in 6 communes in Quynh Luu. Quynh Hong is the locality where the epidemic occurred 4 days ago. However, on the afternoon of June 4, when we were present in this locality, we saw that the epidemic prevention and control work here still has many shortcomings.

The checkpoint in Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district has no barriers or disinfection pits. Photo: PV

There are 4 checkpoints on the roads leading to hamlets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. The problem is that there are 2 checkpoints in hamlet 4. Although there are people on duty, there are no disinfection pits or barriers.

At the main checkpoint at the beginning of National Highway 48B into Hamlet 6, there is no barrier and the disinfection pit is not secure, while the seat of the person on duty is far from the disinfection pit, making epidemic prevention work very difficult.

At another checkpoint in hamlet 6, Quynh Hong commune, there is no one on duty and no barrier. Photo: PV

The checkpoint has no sprayers or chemicals.

In Hoang Mai town, the problem is that there are no sprayers or chemicals at the epidemic checkpoint.

"Because we weren't provided with sprayers and chemicals, we just sat around doing nothing," said Le Van Son, the person on duty at the checkpoint.

The checkpoint in Quynh Xuan ward (Hoang Mai town) is only temporary. Photo: PV

DThe locality has sprayers and has received 50 liters of chemicals from the town, but is keeping them in storage and will only spray them when needed.

Mr. Vu Van Tu - Chairman of Quynh Xuan Ward People's Committee

It is thought that the prevention and control of African swine fever is "hot", while many localities invest in buying lime, chemicals, sprayers... to serve the work of preventing, fighting and controlling the epidemic, it is difficult to understand that Hoang Mai town does not use materials and tools.

Due to the lack of sprayers and chemicals at the checkpoint in Quynh Xuan ward, Mr. Le Van Son could only sit and watch during the entire shift. Photo: PV

Mr. Vu Tuan Dung - Vice Chairman of Hoang Mai Town People's Committee was quite surprised when we mentioned the current situation in Quynh Xuan Ward, saying: Recently, the town has organized many inspections and urged the work of preventing and fighting African swine fever in communes and wards. The remaining problems in localities and towns will soon be overcome.

The absence of African swine fever checkpoints is an opportunity for people to transport pigs in and out of the epidemic area. Disinfection pits that do not meet technical standards will cause the virus to spread widely through vehicles.

At the online conference of the Provincial People's Committee with 21 districts, towns and cities in the province on urgent implementation of prevention and control of African swine fever on June 3, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy thoroughly directed localities to seriously implement epidemic prevention and control solutions, consider fighting the epidemic "like fighting the enemy", and mobilize the entire political system to participate. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directed the heads of local authorities to be responsible to the Party Committee and the higher authorities.

One thing worth noting about the work of preventing African swine fever in Hoang Mai town is that there are places that have not followed the correct procedures in destruction. Specifically, on the afternoon of June 4, when destroying 11 pigs with a total weight of 529 kg belonging to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trong's family in village 10, Quynh Lien commune (Hoang Mai town), the functional forces did not wear disposable protective clothing or gloves.

The force directly destroying pigs in Quynh Lien commune did not wear protective clothing or gloves, posing a very high risk of spreading the virus. Photo: Phuong Lien