PM requests measures to control African swine fever

PM Phuc ordered chairmen of provincial and municipal
people’s committees to issue instructions and treat all the affected areas
completely to prevent new cases. Steering committees must be founded with
detailed duties for every member to improve inspections and supervision.

The steering committees must keep a close watch on border
gates and slaughterhouses, and educate local people on preventive measures.

PM Phuc asked MARD to coordinate with concerned
organisations to supervise the epidemic, especially in neighbouring countries,
to provide proper treatments. The ministry is responsible for connecting with
relevant international organisations and foreign countries to carry out joint
measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

The National Steering Committee Against Smuggling,
Trade Frauds and Counterfeiting Goods (often called National Steering
Committee 389) must issue strict fines to anyone who illegally transports sick
pigs from other countries into Vietnam.

The ministries of transport, defence, industry and trade and
information and communications must join work together on preventive measures
and educating local residents.

Cases of ASF have occurred in 20 countries and more than
1.08 million pigs have been culled to prevent its spread, according to the
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

From August 3, 2018 to February 17 this year, more than 100
outbreaks occurred in 25 provinces and cities in China, including Yunnan and
Guangdong provinces near Vietnam’s border, according to OIE. More than 950,000
pigs were culled.

In Vietnam, AFS was discovered in the northern provinces of
Hung Yen and Thai Binh.

To prevent the disease from spreading, the Department of
Animal Health on February 21 assigned eight laboratories across the country to
administer free-of-charge gene tests for .

Pham Van Dong, director of the department, said the quick
and exact gene tests were an effective step in preventing and controlling the
disease, as well as limited economic losses and environmental impacts.-VNA