Vietnamese authorities forces are ramping up efforts to tackle African swine fever, which is spreading in several localities.

An animal health worker fumigate an area to prevent African swine fever

The Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS) reported on the outbreak and prevention efforts to Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh on March 13.

DMS General Director Tran Huu Linh said there are signs African swine fever is spreading. As of March 12, 14 provinces and cities had recorded the disease, namely Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Ha Nam, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Dien Bien, Hoa Binh and Hai Duong, all in the northern region. 

New hotbeds have been reported in localities like Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh and Hanoi.

He attributed the problem partly to the transportation, trading and consumption of smuggled pork and pork products or those with unclear origin, especially in northern border provinces throughout the Lunar New Year festival in early February.

Additionally, livestock farming in Vietnam is still small-scale with high density, while many farmers haven’t properly carried out disease prevention measures, leading to the disease’s rapid spread.

Linh said the DMS on February 20 and March 8 demanded market surveillance departments of all 63 provinces and cities step up urgent measures to control the epidemic.

Under this direction, local authorities have moved to put the disease under control with several tactics, including increasing inspections of pork transportation on key roads, points of transit for pork and pork products and illegal slaughter.

He said the DMS will continue requesting all forces be mobilised for African swine fever prevention and control, increase coordination with relevant agencies and strictly deal with violations of law.-VNA