Foot and mouth disease outbreak in livestock in Vinh City

Foot and mouth disease in cattle appeared in Hung Hoa commune at the end of November with a rapid spread. Mr. Nguyen Van Hoan, Phong Yen hamlet, Hung Hoa commune said: His family has 3 buffaloes all infected with foot and mouth disease with symptoms of mouth ulcers, peeling legs, unable to walk, not eating... The family asked the veterinarian to come and give them injections but the disease did not go away.

Ms. Tran Thi Lieu, Phong Yen hamlet, Hung Hoa commune, takes care of a buffalo with foot and mouth disease. Photo: Quang An

Not far away, Mrs. Tran Thi Lieu, Hung Hoa commune, also had to lock up her family's buffalo because of the disease. Mrs. Lieu used traditional experience of using lemon juice, sour star fruit, and alum to disinfect the buffalo's feet and mouth, but this was only a temporary measure.

It is known that Phong Yen hamlet, Hung Hoa commune is a place where livestock epidemics often occur because Lam river flows through here, combined with the habit of letting buffaloes and cows roam freely in the fields and dikes in large herds, so the virus easily penetrates and spreads widely. In just a few days, 7 households in the commune had an epidemic with 11 infected buffaloes and currently the epidemic has not shown any signs of slowing down.

The hooves of infected buffaloes are disinfected with lemon juice, star fruit and methylene blue to limit the spread. Photo: Quang An

It is known that Hung Hoa commune has not organized vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease for livestock in the past time.

Hung Hoa Commune is one of the localities with the largest number of buffaloes and cows in Vinh City with over 300. Mr. Tran Cao Cuong - Vice Chairman of Hung Hoa Commune People's Committee said: Immediately after receiving information about the epidemic, we sent veterinary staff to check and at the same time reported to Vinh City Veterinary Station to coordinate in fighting the epidemic. At the same time, we are advising people to confine buffaloes and cows and avoid letting them roam freely to limit the spread of the epidemic.

Despite the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, many households in Hung Hoa commune still let their cattle and buffalo roam freely, posing a high risk of spreading the disease. Photo: Quang An

Foot and mouth disease is a common dangerous disease in livestock. When infected, the body temperature of livestock is quite high (about 40°C). At the same time, livestock becomes less hungry, lethargic, secretes a lot of saliva and drools; in the mouth area (mouth, gums and tongue), the foot area (hooves and toenail edges) and udder appear blisters containing pale yellow fluid. Within 24 hours, the blisters will burst, causing the hoof edges to swell and hurt, making it difficult for the animal to walk and have to lie in one place. If the disease develops strongly, after about 5 to 6 days, the animal will become weak, have difficulty breathing and die.