Nghe An issues urgent dispatch directing focus on preventing and controlling livestock and poultry diseases

In the face of the death of a Cambodian border province bordering Vietnam due to the A/H5N1 avian influenza virus, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an urgent dispatch on preventing the smuggling and illegal transportation of poultry and poultry products smuggled from abroad into Vietnam. Nghe An province issued urgent dispatch No. 03/CD-UBND, directing the immediate implementation of prevention and control solutions.

Nghe An province directs localities and the agricultural sector to step up vaccination for livestock. Photo: Phu Huong

The telegram clearly stated: To prevent the risk of disease infection due to the transportation, trade, and consumption of smuggled animals and animal products into the area; to limit the outbreak and spread of diseases, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns; Directors of Departments, Heads of relevant provincial-level sectors to resolutely and synchronously implement measures to prevent and control animal diseases, focusing on organizing the implementation of the following contents:

People's Committees of districts, cities and towns:Strengthen inspection and control work, especially at border gates, trails, openings in border areas, seaports... to promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal trading, slaughtering, and transporting of animals and animal products into the area, especially poultry and poultry products. In case of catching illegal shipments of animals and animal products, they must be destroyed immediately (before destruction, samples must be taken and sent to veterinary agencies for disease testing).

At the same time, direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development/Department of Economics to coordinate with the District Agricultural Service Center, People's Committees of communes, wards and towns: Urgently review and register vaccine needs with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine to synthesize and select appropriate vaccines; organize vaccination for livestock and poultry in the spring of 2023, ensuring the rate reaches over 80% of the total herd at the time of vaccination, especially for dangerous diseases such as: Lumpy skin disease, avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, rabies...

Strengthen livestock and poultry disease surveillance to detect early, warn and handle new outbreaks; report promptly, fully and accurately on disease situations from the grassroots to commune, district and provincial levels in accordance with regulations. Strictly handle cases of concealment and failure to report, leading to widespread disease spread, affecting people and the community.

Launching the people to carry out the first phase of the General Cleaning, Disinfection and Environmental Decontamination Month in 2023, from15/3 - 15/4/2023to eliminate pathogens in the environment. Allocate resources and funding to promptly and effectively implement animal disease prevention plans approved and directed by the Provincial People's Committee; promote the construction of facilities and animal disease-safe zones. Focus on improving and enhancing the capacity of the commune-level veterinary team; establish a working group to inspect, urge and guide measures to prevent and control animal diseases.

Strengthen information and propaganda work widely in various forms and contents suitable for each target group about the risks, harmful effects of epidemics and prevention and control measures. Guide livestock farmers to apply biosafety measures; mobilize people, especially in border areas, not to participate in or assist in the transportation and trading of animals and animal products that have not been quarantined or of unknown origin.

Farmers need to disinfect and clean their barns regularly. Photo: Quang An

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:Strengthen inspection and supervision of animal disease prevention and control and livestock and poultry vaccination in 2023, promptly remove obstacles at the grassroots level.

At the same time, direct the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine to: Strictly implement quarantine of animals and animal products transported out of the province, check veterinary hygiene and food safety. Update and report epidemics via the Online Animal Disease Information System (VAHIS) in accordance with regulations. Guide localities, organizations and individuals to build disease-safe livestock chains, regions and facilities. Prepare adequate vaccines, chemicals, supplies, etc. to be proactive in disease prevention, control and handling of emerging epidemics.

Health service:Direct the Provincial Center for Disease Control to closely coordinate with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and local authorities in monitoring diseases transmitted from animals to humans for timely, thorough and effective handling.

Provincial Police, Provincial Border Guard Command:Establish a special project to combat the transport and trade of smuggled animals and animal products, especially poultry, across the border; coordinate with local authorities to arrest and strictly handle violations.

Department of Industry and Trade, Market Management Department:Strengthen traffic control measures, promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal transportation and trading of animals, animal products, poultry and poultry products of unknown origin in the market.

Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper:Strengthen communication about the risks of dangerous diseases entering from abroad through illegal transportation, trade, and consumption of animals and animal products.

Relevant provincial departments and branchesBased on functions, tasks and powers, proactively coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committee at district level to implement measures to prevent and control livestock and poultry diseases.

Phu Huong