Long An needs to strengthen biosecurity measures in animal husbandry to prevent African swine fever

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Phung Duc Tien asked Long An to strengthen biosecurity measures in raising pigs

On June 25, the delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Deputy Minister - Phung Duc Tien had a meeting with the leaders of Long An Provincial People's Committee on the prevention and control of ASF.

Up to now, in Long An province, ASF has occurred in Duc Hoa district, Kien Tuong town and Ben Luc district.

For that reason, the province has actively prepared equipment and supplies for the epidemic prevention and control, bought 12 tons of lime powder and implement a bidding package to buy 7,792 liters of Benkocid antiseptic in the Plan of communication, sterilization and prevention of terrestrial animal epidemics in 2019.

According to the Member of Party Central Committee, Head of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment - Phan Xuan Dung, up to now, 10% of Vietnam's pig herd is infected with ASF and the death rate is 100%

Deputy Director of Long An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh suggested that the Ministry should soon issue a decision on policies and funding mechanisms according to Resolution No.42/NQ-CP dated on June 18, 2019 of the Government on the implementation of urgent solutions to the ASF prevention and control under the guiding spirit of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat at Directive No.34-CT/TW on May 20, 2019; consider regulations on quarantine of animals inside and outside the province. In addition, the Department also proposed the Central level to consider supporting 30,000 liters of antiseptic for the province. 

Besides small-scale livestock households, Long An also has many slaughterhouses so the risk of ASF spread is very high, said the Vice Chairman of Long An Provincial People's Committee - Pham Van Canh

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Phung Duc Tien highly appreciated the prevention and control of epidemic and considered the province's proposals. However, on top of that, the province has to actively fight the spread of the epidemic.

He also pointed out many shortcomings in the prevention and control of epidemics. To be more specific, there is no vaccine to prevent ASF. The support price is low so pigs are sold at cheap price. The density of pig breeding in the whole country is high (more than 2.5 million livestock households), so it is difficult to control the epidemic spread, etc. Therefore, the best solution is biosecurity.

This latest outbreak leaves only 3 provinces nationwide that have not been hit by the ASF virus. They are Ninh Thuan, Tay Ninh and Ben Tre.

By Huynh Phong - Translated by Pham Ngan