PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has held an urgent meeting on the prevention of the African swine fever epidemic on March 4.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle) held an urgent meeting on the prevention of the African swine fever epidemic

According to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, the African swine fever has been found in seven provinces and cities with 202 households, 64 villages and 33 communes. They have destroyed a total of 4,231 pigs so far.

2,323 pigs were destroyed and buried in Hung Yen Province from February 1 to March 3. Thai Binh was in second place with 1,118 pigs destroyed from February 12 to March 3. Hai Phong followed with 424 pigs from February 18 to March 3. 

Cuong said, "The Veterinary Department has taken a total of 388 samples at 98 households that live near those with sick pigs. The results show that most of them are negative. Infected pigs have been quickly destroyed."

Both the authorities and local people have quickly implemented various measures to deal with the outbreak and sterilise the locations. However, they have to face many difficulties since as many as 14 million households are raising pigs. The prime minister has intervened when problems with policies and procedures arose. He also praised Hanoi authorities for their quick action.

"Hanoi hasn't seen any major outbreak. Since each province has its own preventive budget, the authorities must do their best to deal with the outbreak," he said.

Many provinces asked the prime minister to issue support policies for farmers who have pigs destroyed. Nguyen Hong Dien, party secretary of Thai Binh Province, said they gave financial support up to VND38,000 per kilo to the farmers and had the situation under control.

Dien proposed to the government to support locality authorities with lab tests and slaughterhouse management.

Dan Viet/Dtinews