HCMC – African swine fever (ASF) has broken out in more than 2,200 communes in 57 cities and provinces, leading to over 230,000 pigs being culled, a three-fold year-on-year increase.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh issued a directive urging local authorities to promptly take measures against ASF, the local media reported.
The spread of the disease will take a heavy toll on the livestock industry and upend production and business activities and the food supply chain.
To bring the outbreak under control and ensure sufficient pork supply for the upcoming Tet holiday, the Government asked leaders of provinces and cities to mobilize forces to cull infected pigs, disinfect farms and piggeries, and prevent the smuggling of pigs.
The competent forces must tighten control over people and vehicles arriving at border gates from ASF-hit countries.
According to the government’s directive, harsh sanctions must be imposed on those who illegally transport pigs and pork products to Vietnam or use sick pigs to process and produce food for consumption.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is tasked with keeping a close watch on the development of ASF and act promptly if the situation worsens.
The authorities should ask farmers to monitor their pigs regularly, apply farming biosafety measures and disinfect their farms.
The Ministry of Public Security is in charge of investigating pig and pork smuggling rings and updating lists of smugglers and traffickers of pigs and pork products.
