The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has warned that foot-and-mouth disease among pigs has spread to six localities.

Six localities affected by foot-and-hand disease

Nguyen Van Dong, head of the MARD’s Animal Health Department, said that since December last year, six localities namely Hanoi and the provinces of Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Ha Nam and Ha Tinh have been hit by foot-and-mouth disease, affecting 2,388 pigs.    

According to Dong, boards of animal health in localities have not yet paid due attention to disease prevention. 

Meanwhile, many households have not vaccinated pigs used for meat. Some localities have even failed to send samples to labs to test for the disease.

He also mentioned the illegal transportation of pigs which are suspected to contract with foot-and-mouth disease. 

The sterilisation of disease-affected areas has also not been conducted well.

MARD has instructed cities and provinces to tighten control over pig breeding to prevent and control the epidemic, Dong said. 

He noted that around an additional number of 3.5 million doses of foot-and-mouth vaccines will be imported in the first quarter of 2019 to help improve the situation.

Dtinews