HANOI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of African swine fever outbreaks have been reported in Vietnam's central localities in the past few weeks, forcing authorities to take drastic action to prevent the disease from further spreading.

In central Thanh Hoa province, the disease has hit 42 communes of 10 districts and towns this year. Nearly 2,200 pigs, weighing over 150 tons were culled, provincial media Thanh Hoa Radio and Television reported Tuesday.

Meanwhile, authorities of central Quang Binh province said Monday that so far, 41 communes of eight districts and towns have been affected by the swine fever, with nearly 2,100 pigs weighing roughly 121 tons culled.

Several localities in central Vietnam, including Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam and Quang Tri provinces, have announced hundreds of swine fever outbreaks, noting that the situation has been more complicated since September. Measures are being taken to encircle, control and extinguish the outbreaks.

There are very high risks that the swine fever will occur and further spread in the remaining months of this year, said the Department of Animal Health under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Changing weather, increasing slaughtering, transportation and trading of pigs in the time to come, and fewer resources available to counter the swine fever due to COVID-19 were among the main reasons for the outbreaks, according to the department.

By the end of October, over 1,900 African swine fever outbreaks were confirmed across 57 localities nationwide, leading to the culling of nearly 160,000 pigs or 0.6 percent of the country's total herd, local media cited the department as reporting. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)