African swine fever prevention and control efforts intensified

On the morning of August 14, Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, chaired an online conference with communes and wards throughout the province to discuss measures for preventing and controlling African swine fever.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang chairs the conference. Photo: B.Nguyen

From the beginning of 2025 to August 10, the province recorded 24 outbreaks of African swine fever across 20 communes, leading to the culling of 4,115 sick and dead pigs. Compared to the same period last year, the number of outbreaks increased by 187.5%, while the number of pigs dead or culled rose by over 718%.

African swine fever is showing an upward trend, mainly due to the recurrence of old outbreaks and its occurrence in small-scale household farms with inadequate biosecurity conditions. The risk of the disease continuing to emerge and spread in the coming period remains very high.

Nguyen Truong Giang, Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, reports at the conference. Photo: B.Nguyen

The province's total pig herd currently stands at nearly 4.2 million, accounting for over 14% of the national herd. Of this, farm-based production makes up about 92%, with roughly 2,000 farms in operation. To date, the province has 333 pig farms recognized as disease-free facilities.

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang remarked that this year, cases of African swine fever have increased nationwide, and in Dong Nai in particular, compared to the same period last year. In the coming period, provincial departments and agencies will, in line with their assigned functions and duties, participate in epidemic prevention and control efforts.

Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice President of the Đồng Nai Livestock Association, speaks at the conference. Photo: B. Nguyen

Communes and wards must continue to strictly implement epidemic declarations, organize prevention and control efforts in accordance with regulations, and mobilize the entire political system in the fight against the epidemic. Communication campaigns should be intensified to ensure farmers understand the situation and do not conceal outbreaks. Communes and wards must prioritize and focus local resources on promptly and thoroughly handling existing outbreaks and preventing new ones. This undertaking includes carrying out general cleaning, spraying disinfectants, and sterilization, as well as guiding farmers through the distribution of leaflets and providing clear, vivid information so that people fully understand and strictly comply with daily cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization measures.

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang also requested that communes and wards review and require epidemic control forces to strictly apply personal protective measures, hygiene, disinfection, and sterilization to prevent the spread of the disease during the handling, transport, and disposal of pigs. Burial pits for pigs must be thoroughly disinfected to prevent pathogens from spreading through water sources. Communes and wards must promptly compile statistics to provide support to affected farmers in accordance with regulations. Inspection efforts should be intensified to strictly control and address unlicensed slaughter activities, as these are also a source of disease transmission.

By Binh Nguyen

Translated by Huyen Trang - Minho