The Prime Minister presses for strict control to limit the spread of African swine fever

The local People's Committees will be held responsible for African swine fever outbreaks

A recent report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment indicates that since the beginning of the year, Vietnam has experienced over 514 outbreaks of African swine fever in 28 of 34 provinces and cities. The number of infected, dead, and culled pigs exceeds 30,000.

The entire country has recorded 248 outbreaks in 20 provinces and cities (after the merger) in the past 21 days. The risk of African swine fever epidemic tends to increase, particularly in localities with large pig herds, thus negatively affecting the pig farming industry, food supply and the environment.

Aiming to prevent and control African swine fever promptly and effectively, in the Official Dispatch, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities under Central to proactively direct and organize the drastic, synchronous and effective measures against this dangerous disease within their authority.

To be more specific, local leaders need to give out directives and mobilize forces and legal resources to promptly detect and thoroughly handle outbreaks, and prevent and limit the occurrence of new outbreaks. They must resolutely destroy sick or suspectedly sick pigs.

Local authorities take the initiative by implementing policies to support livestock farmers affected by disease outbreaks as per the law, prevent and strictly handle cases of trading and transporting sick pigs, and dumping dead pigs, which spread disease and pollute the environment. They must not let the rearrangement of local organizations and apparatus affect disease prevention and control work.

It is also important to strengthen communication and information dissemination in various forms about the dangerous nature of African swine fever, the risk of disease recurrence and spread, disease prevention measures and the use of African swine fever vaccine for pigs according to the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Local working groups will be a crucial force in inspecting and urging the prevention and control of animal diseases, building disease-free livestock farming chains and areas.

Strengthening contact with the grassroots level to prevent epidemics

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities. The goal is to proactively arrange funding and resources to effectively implement the National Plan for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control for the 2020 - 2025 period according to assigned tasks and authorities.

The Prime Minister urges localities to develop, allocate funds and effectively implement the contents of the National Plan. Coordination with international organizations is a method worth mentioning in the process of supporting control and in-depth analysis in disease prevention and control work, and local leaders can also expand disease management by utilizing the online system.

Strictly handle cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of pigs

The Prime Minister requests the Ministry of National Defense to direct the Border Guard force to closely coordinate with functional units of ministries, sectors and local authorities. The missions include strictly handling cases of illegal import of pigs and pig products and strengthening communication among local people in border areas. Local farmers should be more aware of the dangers of African swine fever and the harms of trading and transporting pigs and pig products that are not quarantined and of unknown origin.

The Ministry of Public Security is required to direct units and local police to coordinate with functional forces of the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and local authorities in the process of preventing and strictly handling cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of pigs and pig products according to the law.

The Prime Minister assigns the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct market management forces and relevant units to work with veterinary forces, police, and traffic inspectors. The prime objective is to strengthen control, promptly detect, and strictly handle cases of trading and transporting sick pigs and pig products of unknown origin and not yet quarantined in the market.

The Ministry of Finance needs to promptly direct and allocate funding for the prevention and control of animal diseases, including African swine fever. It will strictly follow legal regulations to prevent corruption, loss, and waste of resources.

The Prime Minister also demands the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, and Vietnam News Agency to direct central and local press agencies and step up propaganda on measures to prevent and control African swine fever so that people can proactively apply disease prevention measures according to the instructions of specialized agencies.