Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued anofficial document to request 20 provinces and cities to take drastic andsynchronous measures to prevent and control African swine fever (ASF).

Therequest aims to ensure safety for redeveloping breeding and pork supply.

The citiesand provinces include Hanoi, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, BacNinh, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh,Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

According toa report of the local veterinary agencies, the African swine fever hasreoccurred in 155 communes of 20 provinces and cities, culling nearly 4,000pigs.

A high riskof African swine reoccurring and spreading in large scale remains, the documentsaid.

Throughinspecting the safe implementation of animal husbandry, the Department ofAnimal Health found a number of major causes of recurrence and spread of thedisease.

Firstly,after the disease has been well contained, a number of small-scale farminghouseholds redeveloped their herds but the breeding pigs were mainly boughtfrom markets, trading places or traders with unknown origin.

Secondly,outbreaks have reoccurred in small farming households without effectiveprevention and isolation measures or meeting disease prevention and hygienerequirements.

Many pigbreeding farms have not reported the disease to authorities and tried to sellsick pigs, making it harder to keep the disease from spreading, according tothe department.

Breedersalso did not take samples for testing when the pigs showed signs of beinginfected or suspected of being infected.

Wastes andwastewater which were discharged directly to the environment without treatmentalso caused the spread of the disease.

Anotherreason is that farmers did not report to the local authorities or veterinaryagencies to promptly handle cases of pigs newly infected with ASF.

In manylocalities, the shortage of veterinary force is also a reason that causesdifficulty in monitoring, promptly detecting and implementing preventionmeasures.

To preventfurther spreading of the disease, the ministry ordered the chairmen of People'sCommittee in provinces and cities to urgently direct the departments andadministrations at all levels to mobilise resources to implement drasticprevention and control measures, avoiding negligence and subjectivity.

Departmentsof Agriculture and Rural Development was required to immediately establishworking groups and send technical staff to localities infected with the disease(less than 30 days) to coordinate with local authorities to control and preventASF.

Transporting,trading pigs for breeding and slaughtering need to be closely monitored andstrictly handled with violations to prevent the risk of recurrence and diseasespread./.