African swine fever quietly spread across Ha Tinh

African swine fever spread to over 10 communes

The seasonal weather transition coincided with a surge in live hog prices and a high demand for herd restocking, which further complicated efforts to control African swine fever.

According to the Ha Tinh Province's Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, the disease has exhibited alarming developments since early 2025. Local governments have reported outbreaks across three regions: Cam Xuyen, Thach Ha Districts, and Ha Tinh City. As a result, the disease has affected over 10 communes to date. Subsequently, over 275 infected and dead pigs were subject to disposal.

Cam Xuyen District has reported outbreaks in six of its communes—Cam Thach, Cam Duong, Yen Hoa, Cam Thinh, Cam Son, and Cam My—resulting in 185 infected and culled pigs. Notably, the disease first emerged on small-scale farms prior to the Lunar New Year and has subsequently spread to larger farms with substantial herd sizes.

“A recent inspection revealed several limitations in the local disease monitoring, reporting, and response activities. Disinfection efforts are relatively limited in terms of both frequency and quality. Many local farmers fail to comply with disease prevention regulations. On the other hand, the increased slaughtering, trading, transportation, and consumption of pork products during the Lunar New Year holidays have significantly exacerbated the risk of transmission,” the Director of the Ha Tinh Province's Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health reported.

Similarly, Ha Tinh City reported outbreaks of African swine fever in three communes—Tuong Son, Thach Tri, and Thach Thang—resulting in 45 infected and culled pigs. The city, home to a high number of small-scale farms, also serves as a major hub for livestock trade and transportation, which further increased the risk of disease spread.

Nguyen Viet Hien, Acting Head of Ha Tinh City's Economic Division, stated that local authorities have distributed 754 liters of disinfectant and 9,700 kilograms of lime powder for sterilization. Moreover, the city has deployed veterinary specialists to inspect and guide local authorities in implementing comprehensive disease prevention measures.

The city is currently focusing on closely monitoring outbreaks in villages, residential groups, and farms, in addition to strengthening controls over the trading, slaughtering, and transportation of pigs and pork products. Local farmers are required to immediately report any cases of irregular pig illness or death to the Center for Applied Science and Agricultural Protection for prompt inspection and intervention.

Experts warn that the current seasonal transition weakens the livestock immune system, thereby making animals more susceptible to disease. Increased trading and transportation activities also increase the risk of the African swine fever spreading. Additionally, some farmers fail to report sick pigs to local authorities, opting instead for treatment from private veterinarians.

Buyers often enter pig pens before outbreaks occur, and local governments have not enforced strict and comprehensive disease control measures. Several disease control activities, such as setting up checkpoints and disinfecting outbreak sites, are restricted, contributing to the unpredictable and complex development of the disease.

Provincial chairman issued emergency directive

Ha Tinh Provincial Chairman Vo Trong Hai recently issued an urgent directive, instructing veterinary agencies and local authorities to take decisive action with the aim of containing the disease and minimizing losses for farmers. He emphasized that district-level leaders in affected areas will be directly responsible for the widespread outbreaks and severe economic damage.

In the immediate term, district authorities must request that their communes and wards urgently assess the state of local outbreaks, formally declare affected areas, and mobilize resources to implement disease prevention and control measures in strict accordance with the Law on Veterinary Medicine.

The province is shifting its focus towards monitoring livestock populations, closely tracking disease developments, and enforcing early detection and intervention under the principle of “prevention over treatment.” The local government has also advised its farmers to implement biosecurity measures and refrain from restocking herds until all disease safety conditions are met to prevent further losses. Furthermore, they must regularly and effectively implement strict sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization measures on their farms and surrounding areas.

Trade, transportation, and slaughtering activities are currently subject to stricter supervision, with mandatory disinfection of vehicles, animal products, feed, and farming equipment, especially in high-risk areas. The province will also enforce stricter control over boar breeding, piglet sales, and feed processing in outbreak-affected households.

Local authorities are establishing councils to manage the disposal of infected pigs, ensuring accurate record-keeping of the number and weight of the discarded animals, as well as compliance with legal procedures. Disease control teams are required to follow strict biosecurity protocols to prevent further spread during disposal, transportation, and burial. Other measures have also been implemented to manage burial sites and surrounding areas to eliminate potential contamination risks.

For districts, cities, and towns that are safe from the outbreaks, local authorities are conducting widespread inspections to detect any emerging livestock or poultry diseases. Discovered outbreaks will be promptly addressed according to regulations, and local officials are required to report new cases immediately. Local stakeholders are also organizing public awareness campaigns to draw attention to the risks and consequences of disease outbreaks, as well as the importance of vaccination.

Ha Tinh recently launched a large-scale disinfection campaign; urged farmers to adopt safe husbandry practices, report outbreaks, and refrain from selling, slaughtering, or disposing of infected animals.

Ha Tinh Provincial Chairman has instructed veterinary authorities to allocate necessary funds and resources to effectively implement African swine fever prevention and vaccination campaigns.

For the first vaccination round of 2025, the province has advised its farmers to view vaccination as a critical safeguard for both their livestock and livelihood. Ha Tinh aims to administer the correct vaccines to at least 80% of the local livestock population at the designated time, with the campaign set to be completed by May 30, 2025.