The prevalence of blue ear virus in Nghe An is 11%

(Baonghean) -According to the results of active surveillance by the Veterinary Agency of Region III on the circulation of the blue ear disease pathogen, from the analysis of serum samples, it shows that in Ha Tinh, the blue ear virus circulation rate is up to 40%, in Nghe An it is 11%.

After the outbreak of blue ear disease in pigs occurred in Hung My commune (Hung Nguyen) on October 20, necessary epidemic prevention measures have been deployed here. Mr. Nghiem Xuan Bao, head of the district veterinary station, said: “Up to now, the district has completed the injection of 2,000 doses of anti-epidemic vaccine in Hung My commune and hamlets in the epidemic-threatened areas, and destroyed 9 more pigs that developed the disease after the injection. We require households whose pigs were destroyed to immediately destroy all remaining food, and absolutely not transfer it to other households. In the epidemic-threatened areas, regularly monitor the pig herd, especially in areas where households use water from the Hoang Can canal, and control transportation. At the same time, mobilize people in the whole district to conduct a general cleaning of village roads and alleys; households that raise pigs clean up by themselves, and compost manure using the bio-thermal method to destroy pathogens.”

Vaccination against blue ear disease for pigs in hamlet 7, Hung My commune (Hung Nguyen).

The outbreak of blue ear disease usually occurs every 2-3 years. In 2009, 2011 and 2013, the disease caused severe damage to Nghe An's livestock. Now, in nearly 30 months, after "raging" in 7 districts (forcing the destruction of more than 1,600 pigs), blue ear disease has returned.

According to Mr. Dang Van Minh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Veterinary Department, that long period of time has led to complacency and negligence in disease prevention among livestock farmers. When carrying the virus, the animal does not show clinical signs, but can still carry the pathogen and regularly excrete it, polluting the livestock environment and creating a very high risk of disease outbreaks. In reality, usually after 2-3 years, when natural immunity decreases, vaccination rates for other diseases are low, and the weather changes, the pathogen will have the conditions to break out into an epidemic, even in areas that have never been affected by it, due to circulation and trading activities that spread the pathogen into the environment on a large scale.

Sprinkle lime in livestock areas to prevent blue ear disease.

The epidemic situation in Hung My commune shows that people's awareness and habits in disease prevention are still limited. Pigs are not vaccinated against blue ear disease. To minimize the spread and outbreak of the disease, in addition to supervision by authorities, farmers must be proactive in protecting their livestock, not being subjective, hiding the disease, self-treating or consuming it. Buy piglets from reputable breeding facilities, fully vaccinated sows, absolutely do not buy from unknown sources because piglets are highly susceptible to infection.

During “sensitive” and high-risk periods like now, it is necessary to take good care of pigs, use clean water for pigs to drink, and clean the barns. Regularly sweep, collect waste, and use lime powder or diluted lime water to sweep around walls and paths to kill pathogens.

Phu Huong