Risk of spreading the African swine fever epidemic

7 more households with dead pigs infected with African swine fever

From October 30 to November 5, the People's Committee of Suoi Tan commune, Cam Lam district (Khanh Hoa), monitored, received information, and detected 7 more households in Dau Son village with dead pigs infected with African swine fever (ASF). The commune government coordinated with the functional agency to destroy all 365 pigs (13 sows, 322 hogs, and 34 piglets) infected with the disease, with a volume of 19.5 tons.

Thus, from October 20 to November 5, there were 12 farming households in Dau Son village with pigs that died and were forced to be destroyed. The number was up to 471 heads (17 sows, 420 hogs, and 34 piglets following their mothers), with a volume of over 25 tons.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung, Head of Cam Lam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, said that the treatment and destruction of all sick and dead pigs were in accordance with regulations. In addition, the station has coordinated with the Commune People's Committee to clean and disinfect the entire farming area and destruction site. Place disease notification signs to prohibit, restrict, and quarantine people entering and leaving the farming area where the epidemic occurs and the treatment and destruction area.

Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has granted the Can Lam District People's Committee of Cam Lam district 150 liters of Gludekol chemical for general cleaning and disinfection to prevent and control ASF in the entire district.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung, the station has currently handed over 150 liters of disinfectant chemicals to Suoi Tan commune according to the commune’s recommendation. At the same time, instruct the locality to focus on daily spraying, mainly in areas where the epidemic occurs and surrounding areas with livestock activities. This aims to minimize the spread of pathogens over a large area. Complete all dossiers of farming households with destroyed pigs and send them to the District People's Committee (through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) for appraisal and financial support so that people can have conditions to restore livestock production.

Risk of spread

Recently, the working group of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development conducted a second field inspection at ASF outbreaks and prevention and control work in Suoi Tan commune and, at the same time, investigated and collected opinions of livestock farmers and commune veterinary staff and developments in the epidemiological situation in the field.

Accordingly, the Provincial Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and representatives of the Department of Animal Health Region IV agreed on the identification that the African swine fever epidemic tends to arise and spread rapidly in Suoi Tan commune, with a risk of spreading to adjacent localities in the threatened area.

Faced with the above situation, the Khanh Hoa Sub-Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine requested that the Cam Lam People's Committee direct the People's Committee of Suoi Tan commune to continue to drastically implement measures to prevent ASF. At the same time, quickly organize the spraying of disinfectants at households with sick pigs and pig-farming households in the commune according to regulations.

Sign a commitment with pig farmers, traders, and slaughterhouses to implement the 5 No’s: " No epidemic concealment; sick or dead pig trade and transportation; No sick or dead pig slaughter and consumption; No dead pig throwing into the environment; No use of leftovers that have not been heat-treated" in accordance with the provisions of the Veterinary Law.

Direct the People's Committees of communes and wards, especially communes adjacent to Suoi Tan commune, to recount the total pig herd, develop anti-epidemic plans, get anti-epidemic locations, human resources, and materials ready, and deploy quick destruction when an epidemic occurs.

Strictly monitor the epidemic situation in livestock households and facilities. When detecting livestock infected, dying, or suspected of having infectious diseases, immediately notify the local government and veterinary agency to promptly handle the epidemic, thereby avoiding the spread.

On November 3, Mr. Ngo Van Bao, Chairman of the Cam Lam District People's Committee, chaired a meeting to direct ASF prevention and control. Accordingly, he directed the People's Committee of Suoi Tan commune to drastically implement disease prevention and control measures.

Specifically, carry out general cleaning and disinfection at pig-farming households in the commune. Hang signs announcing the locations of ASF outbreaks to let people know.

Organize the signing of a commitment for pig-farming households in the commune to proactively notify and not sell pigs suspected of being infected outside the area. Coordinate with veterinary agencies to regularly inspect slaughter activities in the commune.

Concentrate forces to completely handle outbreaks and prevent new outbreaks from arising. The People's Committees of communes and towns must disseminate information in many different forms so that farmers, traders, and the community can know and take disease prevention and control measures.

At the same time, the district police and Market Management Team No. 5 are requested to carry out inspection and supervision of livestock and poultry slaughtering activities, trading, and transportation of livestock and poultry of unknown origin and strictly handle violations.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung said that up to now, African swine fever has only arisen in Dau Son village, Suoi Tan commune. All infected pigs have been destroyed according to regulations. As for other localities in Cam Lam district, the pig herd is still growing and developing well.

He recommends farmers not buy, sell, or exchange pigs in epidemic areas; pig products in non-epidemic areas can be used normally, while affirming that African swine fever is not contagious and does not cause disease in humans.