As the threat of African Swine Flu entering Vietnam rises, preventive measures such as close monitoring, culling, and inspections are being deployed. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development isworking with authorities to prevent the infiltration of the fast-spreadingAfrican Swine Flu into Vietnam.
AfricanSwine Flu (ASF) is a contagious disease which affects pigs. Although notdangerous towards humans, the near 100 percent mortality rate, ease of spreadand the virus’s resilience makes the diseases very deadly.
Thedisease, which has no cure, has affected 19 countries. In China, from August toNovember, more than 70 cases of infection were detected.
NguyenVan Long, head of the epidemiology department of the Department of AnimalHealth, said that Vietnam faced a high risk because of the transporting andsmuggling of pork products of unclear origin from regions affected by ASF(especially in the northern border regions).
InNovember, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an emergencyaction plan to deal with the rising threat of ASF entering Vietnam, especiallyas the disease in China began moving southward.
Inspectionteams were formed in provinces that are along the border, have a highconcentration of pigs, or have a high number of visiting tourists.
Closermonitoring is being employed to combat smuggling, selling and gifting of porkand pigs of unclear origin, while processed pork products bought from countrieswith ASF are being examined thoroughly.
Importsof pork from countries with ASF have been suspended, while farms, markets andslaughterhouses are expected to be frequently sterilised.
Inaddition, farms have to apply strict bio-security standards, with vehicles orpeople properly sanitised before entering or leaving farms.
Properlyequipped labs to test for ASF from pig samples have also been set up.
Farmersand veterinarians are monitoring ASF to detect if there are signs of possibleASF, pork products of unknown origin, or pigs dying of unknown causes.
Theyare also expected to retrieve samples for testing before disposing of the pigsor pork products.
Authoritieshave been told to inform the public of the danger and development of ASF.
IfASF is detected at a farming household, the entire herd has to be disposed ofwithin 24 hours after the announcement of the results.
Ifthe disease is detected at a large pig farming facility with sectioned barns,the infected barn will be culled. The entire facility must cull its pigs ifsigns of spread are found.
Townsand wards with infected households will also be quarantined if needed. If pigswith symptoms are found within three kilometres, they have to be culled within48 hours without the need for testing to prevent the spread of the disease.
Transportationof pigs in and out of infected towns and wards is prohibited, and surroundingareas have to be closely monitored and sanitised. Authorities will compensatefarmers for their loss of pigs.
Arepresentative from Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leadingpharmaceutical companies, said that its Comprehensive Online ManagementBiosecurity Assessment Tool could be used to check a pig farm’s biosecuritylevel.
Tocombat ASF, Vietnam plans to spend nearly 49 billion VND (2.1 million USD)until the end of 2019 to purchase equipment and carry out inspections, trainingdrills and research.-VNS/VNA
AfricanSwine Flu (ASF) is a contagious disease which affects pigs. Although notdangerous towards humans, the near 100 percent mortality rate, ease of spreadand the virus’s resilience makes the diseases very deadly.
Thedisease, which has no cure, has affected 19 countries. In China, from August toNovember, more than 70 cases of infection were detected.
NguyenVan Long, head of the epidemiology department of the Department of AnimalHealth, said that Vietnam faced a high risk because of the transporting andsmuggling of pork products of unclear origin from regions affected by ASF(especially in the northern border regions).
InNovember, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an emergencyaction plan to deal with the rising threat of ASF entering Vietnam, especiallyas the disease in China began moving southward.
Inspectionteams were formed in provinces that are along the border, have a highconcentration of pigs, or have a high number of visiting tourists.
Closermonitoring is being employed to combat smuggling, selling and gifting of porkand pigs of unclear origin, while processed pork products bought from countrieswith ASF are being examined thoroughly.
Importsof pork from countries with ASF have been suspended, while farms, markets andslaughterhouses are expected to be frequently sterilised.
Inaddition, farms have to apply strict bio-security standards, with vehicles orpeople properly sanitised before entering or leaving farms.
Properlyequipped labs to test for ASF from pig samples have also been set up.
Farmersand veterinarians are monitoring ASF to detect if there are signs of possibleASF, pork products of unknown origin, or pigs dying of unknown causes.
Theyare also expected to retrieve samples for testing before disposing of the pigsor pork products.
Authoritieshave been told to inform the public of the danger and development of ASF.
IfASF is detected at a farming household, the entire herd has to be disposed ofwithin 24 hours after the announcement of the results.
Ifthe disease is detected at a large pig farming facility with sectioned barns,the infected barn will be culled. The entire facility must cull its pigs ifsigns of spread are found.
Townsand wards with infected households will also be quarantined if needed. If pigswith symptoms are found within three kilometres, they have to be culled within48 hours without the need for testing to prevent the spread of the disease.
Transportationof pigs in and out of infected towns and wards is prohibited, and surroundingareas have to be closely monitored and sanitised. Authorities will compensatefarmers for their loss of pigs.
Arepresentative from Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leadingpharmaceutical companies, said that its Comprehensive Online ManagementBiosecurity Assessment Tool could be used to check a pig farm’s biosecuritylevel.
Tocombat ASF, Vietnam plans to spend nearly 49 billion VND (2.1 million USD)until the end of 2019 to purchase equipment and carry out inspections, trainingdrills and research.-VNS/VNA
VNA
