Leaders will be held responsible for a subjective outbreak of African swine fever

The Prime Minister has just signed directive No. 21/CT-TTg dated July 14, 2024 requiring ministries, branches and localities to strictly implement measures to prevent and control African swine fever (ASF).

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, from the beginning of the year until now, Vietnam has had over 600 African swine fever outbreaks in 44 provinces, cities, forcing the destruction of 42.400 pigs, especially in  Bac Kan, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Son La, Quang Nam và Long An… cause damage to livestock farmers. 

The epidemic is on the rise, the risk of widespread spread is very high so it can affect food supply, consumer price index and the environment.

To prevent, combat and control African swine fever promptly and effectively, the Prime Minister requires:

Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities report to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and City Party Committee to focus on leading, directing, and proactively organizing drastic, synchronous and effective implementation of measures to prevent and control African swine fever in accordance with the direction of the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister and the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture - Development of rural areas. Focusing on some specific tasks as follows:

Directly command and mobilize resources of locals to organize to completely handle outbreaks, not allowing new outbreaks to arise; organize the destruction of infected pigs, suspected infected pigs, and dead pigs, proactively implement policies to support livestock farmers suffering losses due to epidemics in accordance with the law; promptly detect prevent and resolutely handle cases of buying, selling, transporting sick pigs, and dumping dead pig carcasses that spread diseases and pollute the environment.

Instruct farmers to increase the application of hygiene and disinfection measures for cage areas and surrounding high-risk areas; promote biosafety livestock farming, build disease-free livestock facilities and areas. 

Review and make specific and accurate statistics of the total pig herd the number of pig herds that have been vaccinated against African swine fever. On that basis, approve the plan, prioritize the allocation of funds to buy vaccines centrally and organize vaccination synchronously and at the same time in accordance with the Prime Minister's direction in directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 6, 2023, Official Telegrams No. 1097/CD-TTg dated November 16, 2023, No. 58/CD-TTg dated June 16, 2024 and instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and People's Committees at all levels to organize and strictly implement disease prevention and control, especially in places with epidemics or at risk of epidemics; build disease-free livestock chains and areas.

Enhance information and widespread propaganda by many ways about the danger of African swine fever, the risk of disease recurrence, spread, disease prevention measures and use of African swine fever vaccine for pork herds according to instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Strictly implement report mode, ensure complete, timely and accurate disease data on the online Animal Disease Reporting System (VAHIS); strictly handle cases of concealment and slow reporting that lead to the spread of the disease.

Consider handling responsibility of the leader if subjectively causing an outbreak of African swine fever in the management area.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development presides and coordinates with ministries, branches and localities: proactively allocate funds and resources to organize and effectively implement the National Plan for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control for the period 2020 - 2025 according to assigned tasks and authority to achieve the goals of Plan.

Focus on directing, organizing, guiding, urging, and inspecting the prevention and control of African swine fever epidemic; proactively closely monitor the epidemic situation, ensure early detection, warn and direct timely and thorough handling of outbreaks, preventing the disease from spreading widely.

Urge localities to urgently develop, approve, allocate funding and organize effective implementation of the contents of the National Plan for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control for the period 2020 - 2025. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs market management forces and relevant units to coordinate with veterinary forces, police, and traffic inspectors to strengthen control, detect, and promptly prevent amd strictly handle cases of trading and transporting sick pigs and pig products of unknown origin and unquarantined markets to prevent African swine fever and other animal diseases.

The Ministry of Information and Communications directs central and local press agencies to promote propaganda on measures to prevent and control the African swine fever epidemic so that people do not panic and proactively apply disease prevention measures according to guidance from specialized agencies.

The Ministry of Finance, based on the ability to balance the state budget, allocates funding sources to ministries, agencies and localities to serve the prevention and control of African swine fever. In addition, implement the National Plan for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control for the period 2020 - 2025 according to current state budget decentralization to ensure compliance with legal regulations on state budget and other relevant laws.

The Ministry of Home Affairs coordinates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide localities to complete veterinary management agencies at provincial and district levels to ensure forces to prevent and control animal diseases.

Relevant ministries, branches and members of the National Steering Committee for African swine fever prevention and control according to assigned functions and tasks, proactively direct specialized authorities to coordinate to drastically and effectively implement measures to prevent and control African swine fever.