Preventing ASF and avian influenza through biosecurity

Vaccination and disinfection

ASF (African Swine Fever) and avian influenza in Khanh Hoa province have become increasingly complex and unpredictable. According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Khanh Hoa, from October 1 to 12, ASF occurred in 101 households across 38 hamlets in 15 communes and wards, forcing the culling of 1,895 pigs with a total weight of over 102 tons.

10 households in 4 communes and wards also reported avian influenza outbreaks, resulting in the destruction of 1,203 poultry. In the coming period, the risk of outbreaks and spread remains high due to seasonal weather changes that favor the development of pathogens.

In addition, the increasing demand for restocking after a period of low meat prices has led many farmers to become complacent, restocking on a large scale without proper quarantine or disinfection. If not promptly controlled, this poses a significant risk of widespread disease recurrence.

Along with the circulation of dangerous virus strains such as avian influenza A/H5 (H5N1, H5N6, etc.) and ASF, many small-scale farms still neglect strict veterinary hygiene, particularly the improper disposal of animal carcasses and untreated waste, which increases the risk of infection.

In response, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed local authorities to mobilize all resources, avoid complacency, promptly detect and strictly cull infected or suspected pigs and poultry to eliminate disease clusters.

At the same time, mobile veterinary teams have been deployed to villages to guide farmers on proper disinfection and carcass disposal techniques. Local governments have also been instructed to set up temporary quarantine checkpoints in infected areas to monitor the transport of animals and animal products in and out of outbreak zones.

The most crucial and long-term solution is to strengthen livestock vaccination. Communes and wards must promptly complete the second-phase vaccination campaign of 2025 as planned. For avian influenza, special attention must be given to inventorying and vaccinating poultry, ensuring over 80% coverage of at-risk flocks, and providing timely booster shots for newly raised poultry.

In addition, detailed biosecurity measures must be strictly applied at each farm. Farm owners must adhere to the "all in, all out" principle, refrain from adding new pigs during the rearing period, and ensure full vaccination according to regulations.

This is a critical step regarding sanitation. Livestock waste must be collected daily, thoroughly composted or covered, and treated with lime powder. Absolutely no untreated wastewater or waste should be discharged into the environment. Pigsties should be disinfected two to three times per week using broad-spectrum disinfectants, such as Virkon-S, Iodine, or Chlorine, according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

Farms must also remain well-ventilated with dry floors. After each rearing cycle, barns should be cleaned, limed, and left empty for 2 to 3 weeks to break the chain of infection. Pest control measures should be strengthened, such as installing fly and mosquito nets, placing traps for rodents and insects, and avoiding exposure of feed or waste outdoors.

Farmers must monitor livestock health daily. If any abnormal signs, such as high fever, loss of appetite, ear discoloration, or sudden death, occur, they must be reported immediately to the veterinary staff for timely disposal to prevent the spread of disease.

Slaughter control and strict enforcement

Alongside prevention at the source, market monitoring and enforcement must be tightened. Local authorities need to strengthen inspections to ensure veterinary hygiene and food safety at facilities involved in purchasing, slaughtering, processing, and trading.

Strict penalties must be imposed for concealing or failing to report suspected ASF or avian influenza and for trading or transporting infected or untraceable animals.

For the public, awareness campaigns should emphasize the importance of not consuming pork or poultry products without undergoing quarantine inspection, and meat must be thoroughly cooked. People must absolutely avoid eating raw blood pudding or undercooked dishes. In particular, intersectoral coordination between the agriculture and health sectors should be maintained to monitor public health.

Health authorities must closely monitor and promptly isolate and treat individuals who show respiratory symptoms and have a history of contact with poultry to prevent the spread of avian influenza to humans.

Only when preventive measures are applied comprehensively and meticulously from farms to markets, coupled with strict enforcement, can epidemics be effectively controlled, protecting both the livestock industry and public health from infection risks.