Plan for prevention and control of aquatic diseases: Close to reality

Diseases in shrimp and catfish (Pangasius) tend to increase

Mr. Phan Quang Minh, the DAH’s Deputy Director, reported to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien at the Veterinary Medicine Progress Conference in the first quarter of 2023 that the epidemic diseases on animals had been well-controlled from the beginning of the year to March 29.

Of which, there were only five outbreaks of avian influenza A/H5N1 in four provinces, a decrease of 50% over the same period last year; 81 outbreaks of African swine fever in 25 provinces, a decrease of 86% over the same period; 15 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in six provinces; 23 outbreaks of dermatomyositis in five provinces, a drop of 86% over the same period; 63 cases of rabies in animals were recorded in 20 provinces; 11 human deaths from rabies in seven provinces and cities, a decrease of 12 cases compared to the same period last year.

In addition, the total number of disease-affected poultry was 6,094 heads, and 6,739 of those were dead and destroyed, a decrease of 80% over the same period. The total number of pigs destroyed was 3,282 heads, a decline of 88% over the same period, and the number of cattle destroyed was 29 heads, a decrease of 92% over the same period.

Regarding diseases on fishery products, the total damaged aquaculture area was nearly 3,024 ha, a decrease of 63% in the first three months of the year. In which, white spot disease occurred in 54 communes in seven provinces and cities, with a total damaged area of 214 ha, an increase of 3.7% over the same period last year. Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease occurred in 34 communes in seven provinces and cities, with a disease-affected farmed shrimp area of 168 ha, an increase of 28%.

Epidemic disease on catfish occurred in 41 communes in three provinces: An Giang, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long, with a total damaged area of 90 ha, an increase of 7.5% compared to the same period in 2022. Up to now, the whole country has had 31 disease-free facilities, of which 28 are disease-free shrimp production facilities and 3 are disease-free ornamental fish production facilities for export.

Pay special attention to aquatic diseases

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien emphasized that the Department of Animal Health has well completed the task of preventing and controlling animal diseases. However, the Department should pay special attention to aquatic diseases on catfish and shrimp in the coming time because the aquaculture industry is regularly facing up to extreme weather changes.

Specifically, only a few large enterprises producing shrimp seed have currently built disease-free facilities, while small-scale production facilities have not yet paid attention to disease-free construction. There are not many breeding bases that have disease surveillance and meet the conditions of disease-free establishments.

Apart from this, the unit needs to closely coordinate with the marine products industry, have a specific plan for disease prevention and control activities, and monitor the diseases associated with forecasting, which is not far from reality.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien also suggested the DAH review and cut administrative procedures and create a favorable environment for businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to produce, do business, and invest in the industry.

In 2023, the veterinary industry has also planned and proposed solutions to prevent and control diseases in farmed shrimp. It is strengthening monitoring of the disease situation on shrimp in localities and organizing disease surveillance in farming areas. Organize a working group to inspect and urge disease prevention in some of the key farming areas.

Along with that, it is supporting businesses to build disease-free accommodations and coordinating with local livestock and veterinary departments to appraise and recognize disease safety in shrimp seed production facilities.

At the same time, the Department of Animal Health has also strengthened quarantine work on shrimp seed, strictly quarantined imported and exported shrimp seed in localities, strengthened international cooperation in disease prevention, and searched international regulations to support facilities in epidemic prevention and response to export requirements.