All night quarantine for African swine fever in Nghe An

On the night of March 8, reporters were present at two quarantine checkpoints in the North of Nghe An, on Ho Chi Minh Road and National Highway 1A.

The quarantine checkpoint on the Ho Chi Minh trail through Nghia Lam commune (Nghia Dan) always had 3-4 officers on duty on the evening of March 8. Photo: TM

According to the reporter's observation at the quarantine checkpoint in Nghia Lam commune, Nghia Dan district, there are always officers on duty to check vehicles and comply with the time schedule in the work of preventing and fighting African swine fever. There are about 10 people including veterinary staff, traffic police and market management, divided into 3 shifts to check; each shift has 3-4 people controlling vehicles transporting animals through the area.

However, the number of vehicles transporting animals passing through the checkpoint was small. At 10:50 p.m., a team of 3 officers at the quarantine checkpoint inspected 2 cars, including 1 vehicle transporting livestock from Nghe An to Thanh Hoa with license plate 37C - 176.13.

After checking, the veterinary team sprayed the vehicle with disease prevention medicine.

Officers on duty check vehicles carrying animals passing through Nghia Lam quarantine station (Nghia Dan). Photo: TM

Mr. Cao Minh Duc - Head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station of Nghia Dan district, Head of the quarantine team in Nghia Lam commune said: The team's working philosophy is to have no days off, especially in border areas with epidemics, and to be on duty regularly to promptly handle any situation that may arise. "Every day, 3 shifts (4 people each shift) take turns to be on duty at the checkpoint 24/7. Although it is hard, the team always follows the shifts and hours of duty, ensuring that no animal transport vehicles pass through the checkpoint" - Mr. Duc shared.

It is known that from the date of establishment of the checkpoint until the end of March 8, at the checkpoint of Nghia Lam commune (Nghia Dan), 36 vehicles carrying animals passing through were checked, sprayed and disinfected.

At the Bac Nghe An Animal Quarantine Station on National Highway 1A in Hoang Mai town, the right checkpoint (from North to South) always has 3-4 officers on duty. Photo: AQ

At the Bac Nghe An Animal Quarantine Station on National Highway 1A through Hoang Mai town, bordering Tinh Gia district (Thanh Hoa), there are 2 quarantine checkpoints on 2 one-way roads.

According to observations, the checkpoints from North to South always have 3-4 people on duty, including traffic police and veterinary staff.

At 9:20 p.m., a pig truck with license plate 47C-167.64 traveling from the North to the South proactively turned on its turn signal to enter the quarantine station. Veterinary staff quickly used a specialized ladder to climb into the truck bed and shine a flashlight to check the pigs. After checking, the veterinary staff sprayed disinfectant and allowed the truck to continue moving.

When there is a vehicle carrying animals, officers use a ladder to climb up and check. Photo: AQ

However, at the opposite checkpoint, the on-duty work and vehicle inspection were still not thoroughly ensured. At 8:30 p.m., at this checkpoint, there were no inspectors, the duty room was empty, and the lights were still on.

At 9 p.m., a cattle truck with license plate 37C-134.77 traveling from the South to the North passed through the quarantine checkpoint. Only then did we see two veterinary officers “climb the fence” to go through and spray disinfectant. After the truck left, the veterinary officers crossed the road to return to the old checkpoint.

This unscientific arrangement of personnel on duty may have caused some livestock vehicles to pass the quarantine checkpoint. In addition, not assigning personnel to be on duty regularly but having to “climb the fence” when there are vehicles causes delays in disease inspection, causing a high risk of traffic accidents.

Mr. Dau Dang Dinh - Head of the Northern Nghe An Animal Quarantine Station said that after having strong instructions to prevent African swine fever, the unit coordinated with the Traffic Police Team of Hoang Mai town and Market Management Team No. 4 of Nghe An to establish a team of 9 members and divided into 3 shifts/day and night; each shift has 3 officers.

However, at the opposite checkpoint at 8:30 p.m. (March 8), there was no sign of any authorities. Photo: AQ

"Given the complicated developments of the rapidly spreading African swine fever, while Thanh Hoa province, which borders Hoang Mai town, is experiencing an outbreak, we are strictly controlling and quarantining day and night. Although the number of trucks carrying pigs is less during the night than during the day, we always instruct our members to stay focused and not be negligent when trucks carrying animals stop at the stop," added Mr. Dau Dang Dinh.

Discussing the lack of timely guards at the opposite checkpoint, Mr. Dinh said: "We mainly focus our forces on strictly controlling the route from North to South because the risk of disease intrusion on this route is very high. Moreover, this is a one-way route, so it is a bit inconvenient to travel, having to climb fences. However, for vehicles transporting animals through the two checkpoints, we all check and spray pesticides fully."

Previously, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 579 on establishing a temporary quarantine checkpoint to control the transportation of animals and animal products to prevent African swine fever. The quarantine checkpoint/station will operate for 2 months, starting from March 1, 2019 until the end of the epidemic.

At 9pm, there was a vehicle carrying animals from the South to the North. The veterinary staff "crossed the fence" to check, then returned to the old checkpoint. Photo: HV

During the complicated developments of African swine fever in the northern provinces, quarantine checkpoints in the province, although having to work 24/7, with a high sense of responsibility of each professional officer, are determined not to let African swine fever enter Nghe An./.

PV Group