Risk of spreading African swine fever from "pig bathing beaches"

Along National Highway 1A passing through Dien Yen and Dien Hong communes (Dien Chau), many “pig bathing” billboards were seen on the roadside. At a pig bathing facility heading North-South, a truck carrying pigs was stopped in an empty lot and the owner of the facility used a high-powered water hose to bathe the pigs.

Risk of African swine fever spreading from "pig bathing areas" in some localities in Nghe An. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Chu Quang Yen, owner of a pig bathing facility in Dien Hong commune, said that every time a vehicle enters the yard, someone turns on the circuit breaker to bathe the pigs; each time they bathe, we collect 50,000 VND. Currently, because the Chinese market does not consume as much as in previous years, the number of vehicles coming in and out to bathe the pigs has also decreased, mainly trucks transporting pigs from the North to the South.

At this time, the transportation of animals, especially trucks carrying pigs through Nghe An will be strictly controlled and quarantined by authorities to prevent the spread of African swine fever from the neighboring epidemic area of ​​Thanh Hoa. However, according to people's feedback, at the "pig bathing sites", during the operation, no authorities have been seen to monitor or disinfect, while wastewater from pig bathing will flow into ponds and lakes, leading to a high risk of spreading the disease.

Pig and cattle bathing billboards are hung along both sides of National Highway 1A through Dien Hong Commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Viet Hung

Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Trong Bon - Head of Dien Chau District Veterinary Station said that after receiving the directive from the superiors on the prevention of African swine fever, the unit assigned staff to go to the locality and pig farming households to propagate and instruct on disease prevention methods, and at the same time required households engaged in "pig bathing" along National Highway 1A to buy disinfectants when vehicles transporting animals into the beach; Proactively sprinkle lime powder at the entrance and exit of the beach; Assign households to immediately report to the locality when detecting signs of pig disease on livestock vehicles for timely handling, absolutely not allowing the disease to spread into the area.

The "pig bathing" area is not disinfected and is at risk of spreading the disease. Photo: Viet Hung

According to research, along National Highway 1A from Hoang Mai town to Nghi Loc district, there are about 15 "pig bath" billboards and dozens of car wash locations. Every day, about 10-12 trucks carrying pigs pass by, mainly pigs transported from the northern provinces to the south for consumption. Of concern is that African swine fever has now appeared in 9 northern provinces and cities.

Therefore, disease prevention work at "pig bathing" establishments must be closely monitored by authorities to control African swine fever.