39 out of 39 communes and towns in Yen Thanh district have reported cases of African swine fever.
(Baonghean.vn) - Quang Thanh commune is the last locality in Yen Thanh district to experience African swine fever. Thus, as of October 3rd, all 39 communes and towns in this rice-growing district have been affected by African swine fever.
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| Pigs infected with the disease are being destroyed in Tho Thanh commune. (Photo: Xuan Hoang) |
According to information from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district, the last locality in Yen Thanh district to be affected by African swine fever is Quang Thanh commune.
Thus far, 100% of the communes and towns in Yen Thanh district have been affected by African swine fever. The total number of pigs in Yen Thanh district that had to be culled due to infection has reached 17,985, with a total weight of 830,649 kg. The number of pigs culled accounts for 18% of the total pig population in Yen Thanh district before the African swine fever outbreak.
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| Yen Thanh district is intensifying disinfection spraying in pig farming areas and market locations. (Photo: Xuan Hoang) |
The localities currently experiencing outbreaks are: Ly Thanh, Phu Thanh, Lien Thanh, Hoa Thanh, Vinh Thanh, Phuc Thanh, Nhan Thanh, Long Thanh, Do Thanh, and Kim Thanh.
The disease situation is developing complicatedly in the district, causing specialized agencies and local authorities to carry out pig culling every day.
Residents of the rice-growing district are concerned that if the local government does not implement fundamental and effective solutions for disease prevention and control, the district's current pig herd risks being completely culled.
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| Pig farms and small-scale pig breeding facilities in Yen Thanh district are worried about an outbreak of disease. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Mr. Nguyen Vuong Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the Yen Thanh District People's Committee, said: The district's current disease prevention and control measures focus on spraying disinfectant chemicals; tightening the process of culling pigs; and strengthening sanitation and disinfection in residential areas, markets, and business areas. The district is also intensifying public awareness campaigns to encourage people to voluntarily prevent the spread of the disease by avoiding sharing, slaughtering, transporting, and trading pigs.
People are advised not to use untreated water from rivers, ponds, lakes, or canals for bathing pigs, cleaning pigpens, or giving pigs to drink.
The biggest concern is that in Yen Thanh district, there are currently 82 pig farms and 318 small-scale pig breeding farms. If the disease continues to attack these farms and small-scale farms, a very large number of pigs will have to be culled. If proper burial is not done, it will become a breeding ground for disease and affect the environment. Previously, the disease had occurred in several pig breeding farms in the district.
By the end of September 2019, Yen Thanh district had allocated 3.6 billion VND from its contingency fund to invest in the prevention and control of African swine fever. Of this amount, 1.2 billion VND came from the district budget and 2.4 billion VND from the commune budgets.