HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered stronger and coordinated efforts to combat rising livestock and poultry disease outbreaks, which pose serious risks to public health, food supply, and the environment.
In a Government directive, Chinh called on local authorities and ministries to act swiftly to contain outbreaks, support affected farmers, enforce animal vaccination, and crack down on illegal transport and trade of sick animals.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the first quarter of this year has seen six outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1), 84 cases of African swine fever across 22 provinces, and multiple incidents of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease. Over 18,900 poultry and 5,200 pigs were culled. Rabies killed 20 people in 13 provinces.
Local leaders are told to take full responsibility for disease prevention, while the Ministry of Health was tasked with overseeing zoonotic disease control.
The Ministries of Public Security, Defence, and Finance are tasked to strengthen border checks, crack down on smuggling, and ensure adequate funding for disease response.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will supervise the directive’s implementation.
