Risk of African swine fever outbreak after floods in Nghe An

The epidemic continues to recur

Nam Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) is a locality with a resurgence of the disease.African swine feversince the beginning of October, in Hop Thanh and Tay Ho hamlets. Therefore, after this flood, the risk of an outbreak is very high.

Mr. Hoang Van Ha - Chairman of Nam Thanh Commune People's Committee said that during the recent flood, the locality had 3 hamlets flooded, including Tay Ho hamlet where African swine fever was occurring and was severely flooded.
Recognizing that the African swine fever pathogen exists in the environment and is at risk of spreading widely, immediately after the flood receded, Nam Thanh commune organized dredging of drainage canals and spraying disinfectants, especially in the livestock barns of households. At the same time, the commune propagated and mobilized people to buy more lime powder, mix it with water and sprinkle it around the barns and entrances.

People in Nam Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) mix lime with water to disinfect the environment after the flood, to prevent disease outbreaks among pigs. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In case of sick pigs, quickly report to the hamlet and commune for timely handling. However, since the flood receded, the epidemic has continued to recur in another household in Tay Ho hamlet, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van, with 1 pig infected with the disease. Thus, currently in the commune, there are 4 households with African swine fever recurring.

According to data from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district, African swine fever has not only slowed down but also shown signs of spreading further after the recent flood. From 4 communes with the epidemic before the flood, it has now increased to 7 communes: Nam Thanh, Do Thanh, Khanh Thanh, Cong Thanh, Minh Thanh, Vien Thanh, Vinh Thanh.

A dead pig after the recent flood, drifting along National Highway 7, through Cong Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district (photo taken on the afternoon of November 6, 2020). Photo: Xuan Hoang

Dien Chau DistrictOn November 8, Dien Hai commune had another pig that died from illness. The veterinary agency had positive test results for African swine fever.

Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the District's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that after the recent flood, Dien Chau had another commune, Dien Hai, where the epidemic recurred, bringing the total number of localities with the epidemic to 3 communes: Minh Chau, Dien Kim and Dien Hai. Farmers are actively restocking their herds, while the epidemic recurred in many places, along with widespread floodwaters, so the risk of pigs being infected with the disease is high in the coming time.

Proactively prevent epidemics

After the flood, people in flooded areas are facing many difficulties, and facing diseases in livestock is worrying.

During the recent flood, many localities were severely flooded, including some communes and districts where African swine fever is occurring: Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Vinh City... so the risk of an outbreak after the flood is very high. Because the pathogens in the pig's body are excreted through feces, or the pig's carcasses float everywhere... following water sources and are dispersed everywhere, it cannot be controlled. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine believes that the epidemic will continue to re-emerge in many localities, making it very difficult to control.

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine

Pigs died in Hung Nguyen after the storm, the authorities proceeded to destroy them. Photo: Quang An

According to data from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, as of November 9, Nghe An still has 30 communes in 12 districts and cities with African swine fever, including: Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Do Luong, Thanh Chuong, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Que Phong, Quy Hop and Vinh City.

To prevent the disease well, Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh recommends: After the flood, people should not take vegetables, duckweed, etc. from rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, ditches, and troughs to feed pigs; if they do take them, they must be washed and cooked. Do not use pond water to clean barns, etc.

At the same time, localities and breeders carry out vaccinations to increase the resistance of pigs; thoroughly disinfect residential areas and barns.

To ensure the safety of the pig herd, farmers must implement disease prevention measures. If the disease breaks out again, it will affect the livestock industry. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In the barn area, people need to spread a layer of lime powder, combined with spraying disinfectants. Households buying piglets for breeding should find places with clear origins, should not buy piglets from street vendors; especially people in the highlands should not buy pork sold from street vendors, because pork products have unknown origins, while the epidemic is recurring in many places, it is possible that people will sell off pigs.

The African swine fever epidemic has lasted from the beginning of 2019 until now, there was a time when the epidemic subsided in the beginning of 2020, but it has re-emerged since September until now, causing many households to lose everything after investing in herd restoration. Therefore, it is very necessary for local authorities and farmers to strictly implement epidemic prevention measures. If the epidemic breaks out again, it will affect the livestock industry, thereby pushing up pork prices again.