African hog cholera outbreaks have been detected in six cities and provinces and may spread to many more localities in the country, Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reported, citing a report released on February 28 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Representatives of the competent agencies inspect a pig farm 

The disease has been identified in 96 livestock farming households in 13 districts of Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa and Ha Nam provinces and the cities of Hanoi and Haiphong.

More than 2,300 pigs have been culled, causing heavy losses for farmers.

At a meeting on measures to prevent and control the disease held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that even though African hog cholera is not dangerous to humans and is incapable of infecting people, it spreads fast and there is no vaccine for it.

If prevention and control measures are not put in place soon, the disease would significantly affect the local livestock sector.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, the disease has become more complicated. He asked the relevant ministries, agencies and localities to take stronger action to stop the spread of the disease.

Local farmers should be given information on the disease so that they can be aware of the danger.

The competent agencies should support farmers in applying disease prevention and control solutions produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The campaign to get African hog cholera under control should involve the participation of local farmers, Dung added.

SGT