Implementing drastic solutions to control cattle and poultry diseases

​Accordingly, in cases where epidemics are at risk of arising or spreading widely, localities should announce epidemics and organize plans against the epidemic in accordance with the regulations.

They should also timely vaccinate and zone off outbreaks, while setting up teams to work in these areas, the Directive stated.

Meanwhile, localities that are not yet affected by epidemics and others prone to the outbreaks were asked to guide farmers to take precautionary measures and review vaccination.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is requested to coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities in restoring pig herds and prevent avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever from reoccurring.

The Directive also stated that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for strengthening market management, especially at wholesale markets, proactively detecting and strictly handling cases of the illegal transportation and consumption of animals and animal products of unknown origin, and intensifying the communication work.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for supervising and detecting suspected cases of influenza A/H5N1 and A/H5N6 in poultry, and preventing epidemics from spreading.

Reported by the MARD, since the beginning of this year, animal epidemics have occurred in many provinces and cities in the country and changed a complicated tendency. Specifically, the country had recorded 34 avian influenza A/H5N6 and A/H5N1 outbreaks in ten provinces and cities. More than 100,000 poultry had been destroyed. These strains of influenza virus were infectious and fatal to humans. There were more than 100 foot and mouth disease outbreaks in nine provinces and cities, killing hundreds of cattle. The African swine fever that broke out in many localities in 2019 has caused losses worth trillions of VND.

In Quang Ngai, since early the year, foot and mouth disease has been found in 68 communes of six districts and city in the province, with about 2,900 infected buffaloes. In January 2020, an avian influenza  A/H5N6 outbreak occurred in a livestock farm in Hanh Trung commune, Nghia Hanh district, killing and destroying 1,080 poultry.  Functional agencies have continuously strengthened prevention measures. So far, the disease outbreak has been basically controlled. However, the risk of spreading epidemic is very high in the current weather. It is necessary to further strengthen measures devised to prevent and control cattle and poultry diseases.

Hoang Le​