MARD urges to deploy Month of Sanitation, Disinfection and Decontamination for livestock environment

According to reports from local veterinary authorities, in the first two months of 2022, dangerous diseases continued to be well controlled in livestock and poultry farming. However, the risk that epidemic can occur on a large scale is still very high as the total herd of livestock and poultry is very large in including about 515 million poultry, nearly 27 million pigs, and over 12 million other herbivorous animals.

Pathogens still circulate at a high rate and in a wide range, including those that persist for a long time in the environment without any treatment or vaccine. The demand for transportation, slaughter and consumption of animals and animal products increases sharply during the beginning of the year, while small-scale slaughter accounts for the majority. Weather changes also create favorable conditions for pathogens to grow and spread while animal disease prevention and control have recently been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

To proactively prevent dangerous diseases spreading among livestock and poultry, at the same time, avoid their transmission to humans and ensure food safety and health for livestock development, MARD has asked Chairmen of the People's Committee of provinces and cities to direct Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and local authorities at all levels to implement their tasks as follow:

The Month of Sanitation, Disinfection, and Decontamination for livestock environment should be deloyed in key and high-risk areas, or areas with epidemics frequently occurring so that to destroy all kinds of pathogens. The time for simultaneous implementation in provinces started from March 15, 2022.

The implementation should comply with a MARD’s instructions in Appendix 08 issued with Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT dated May 31, 2016, focussing on the following contents: Provinces and cities’ People's Committees should issue documents and assign Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to assume the prime responsibility for coordination with local departments and People's Committees of all levels in implementing, allocating funds ensuring full and effective implementation of the month.

MARD also reminded them to pay attention to funds for chemicals that can destroy disease transmission vectors, especially those of dermatomyositis.

MARD directed concentrated breeding farms, slaughterhouses, and poultry hatcheries to be self-sufficient in materials and funding, organized under the supervision of local authorities and specialized veterinary agencies. Local authorities should apply cleaning and disinfecting measures at border crossings in the respective management areas. The animal quarantine agencies should closely cooperate with functional authorities at the border gate to advise the management board in undertaking measures to clean and disinfect all vehicles transporting animals and animal products through border gates.

Commune-level authorities should organize teams to clean up and spray disinfectants for household breeding areas, rural animal markets, public places, village roads, alleys, and other areas. The disinfectant spraying should be done after they have been mechanically cleaned.

Measures of disease prevention and control should be carried out following provisions of the Law, national programs, and plans approved by the Prime Minister and MARD. The capacity of the veterinary system at all levels should also be urgently consolidated and strengthened according to regulations.