African swine fever re-emerging in areas in Quang Nam province

The central province of Quang Nam has culled nearly 1,600 pigs infected with African swine fever (ASF) with a total weight of over 117 tonnes as the disease re-emerged in 38 communes of eight districts.

According to Quang Nam Province’s Livestock and Animal Health Department, from January 1, 2021, to March 10, 2021, as many as 1,577 pigs infected with ASF were found in eight districts of the province including Que Son, Thang Binh, Hiep Duc, Dai Loc, Phu Ninh, Tien Phuoc, Phuoc Son and Nui Thanh.

Thang Binh District is heavily hit by the disease as ill pigs were reported in 11 out of 12 of its commune. The district culled 609 pigs with a total weight of more than 60 tonnes.

Head of the province’s Livestock and Animal Health Department Nguyen Thanh Nam said on March 11 that the department allocated disinfectants to ASF-hit areas.

The trade, slaughtering and consumption of pigs were suspended in ASF-hit areas while other areas in the province were asked to speed up preventive measures, Nam said.

“The department is waiting for disinfection plans of districts so that we could provide them with sufficient disinfectants,” he said, adding that now, there were about 10,500 litres of disinfectants at the department.

Meanwhile, 17 out of 18 districts and towns in the province estimated to need more than 9,400 litres.