International assistance for Viet Nam’s African Swine Fever response

VCN - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted an international emergency mission to enhance Viet Nam’s response capacity to African Swine Fever  
tin nhap 20190319163906 Lang Son: strictly preventing smuggling of pigs of unknown origin
tin nhap 20190319163906 Customs concentrate on preventing African swine fever (ASF)
tin nhap 20190319163906 Which plan is to prevent African hog cholera infecting Vietnam?
tin nhap 20190319163906
Illustrated photo: Source: Internet

The FAO, in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), conducted an emergency response mission from 11 to 15 March 2019 in Viet Nam to enhance the country’s ability to respond to and prevent further spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). The mission team included experts on ASF, emergency management, Depopulation, Disposal and Decontamination (3D), the swine industry and technical staff from the Viet Nam Department of Animal Health (DAH) and FAO Viet Nam.

The mission objectives were to: Advise the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on the best practices for culling affected pigs and disposal of carcasses; Advise on the best use of available resources to contain the spread of the ASF virus in the local context; Propose immediate, short and medium-term actions. The aim is to combine these actions with the Viet Nam Emergency Response Action Plan for ASF preparedness and control, other regional ASF projects and provide the basis for the formulation of a national ASF response project.

The team visited affected provinces and met with leaders of Departments of Animal Health, Livestock Production and provincial authorities to assess the current outbreak response measures and resources allocated to control the outbreak, as well as to investigate how ASF is spreading.

“The Department of Livestock Production (DLP) estimated over 2.5 million households in Viet Nam are currently actively engaged in pig farming. As such, the loss of pigs due to ASF infection and control measures leads to a heavy economic burden to many rural families. Together with other international partners, FAO will be doing its best to support the Viet Nam government in coping with the disease and its consequences.” said Mr Albert T. Lieberg, FAO Representative in Viet Nam.

The team visited both ASF infected and non-infected pig farms, burial sites and a pig slaughterhouse in Hai Phong city and Thai Binh province, where they collected information on disease epidemiology and observed current 3D practices. Although the local government authorities have been implementing strict movement control of pigs and pig products from infected communes, mobilising their resources for pig culling and disposal, small pig farming models with low biosecurity and swill feeding still continue to facilitate ASF spread.

“It is critically important for all media to accurately inform the public of the facts. ASF is a very contagious disease between pigs that has no direct threat to human health. Good biosecurity is the key factor to keeping pigs safe from ASF. Infected and exposed pigs have to be destroyed to prevent further spread” quoted Mr Ian Dacre, mission team leader.

tin nhap 20190319163906 The Customs actively prevent African Swine Fever at border gates

To enhance the ASF response capacities and prevent its further spread, the mission team proposed immediate, short and medium-term actions to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Some of the key recommended actions included declaring the ASF outbreak as a national emergency, applying a zoning approach to prevent long-distance ASF spread and developing standard operating producers for swine depopulation and carcass disposal.

ASF does NOT transmit to, and cause disease to, humans. It does however kill domestic and wild pigs. It is a deadly pig disease that has been historically limited to Africa with a few historical outbreaks in Europe. However, in 1997 a new incursion in Europe led to its slow but continuous spread from Eastern Europe to Asia over the past 12 years. It was reported for the first time in China in August 2018 but since then has spread very quickly to large parts of the country despite the efforts and measures implemented by the Chinese Veterinary Services. On 19 February 2019, Viet Nam announced the first ASF outbreaks in Thai Binh and Hung Yen provinces. As of 15 March 2019, the Department of Animal Health confirmed a total of 239 ASF outbreaks in 17 provinces. More than 25,000 pigs have been culled in an effort to stop further transmission.

Farmers in Asia have limited knowledge of this disease and its specific epidemiology having only recently been introduced to the region. Despite public awareness campaigns, most of the countries and stakeholders in Asia are unprepared for ASF introduction and spread.

By Huyen Trang

Related News

Viet Nam and Netherlands exchange Customs cooperation agreement

Viet Nam and Netherlands exchange Customs cooperation agreement

VCN – Deputy Minister of Finance Vo Thanh Hung and Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar exchanged the agreement on the implementation of the Vietnam-Netherlands agreement on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance on the morning of November 2, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Việt Nam, RoK enter new chapter of cooperation

Việt Nam, RoK enter new chapter of cooperation

There are huge prospects for the two nations further to expand their cooperation in a range of fields, bringing greater benefits for the governments, people and businesses of the two countries, according to diplomats and researchers.
Việt Nam always supports UN’s humanitarian efforts: Ambassador

Việt Nam always supports UN’s humanitarian efforts: Ambassador

Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, has affirmed the importance of international humanitarian efforts as well as Việt Nam’s commitments to contribute to these activities.
Việt Nam"s second largest green bond issuer in 2021

Việt Nam"s second largest green bond issuer in 2021

The country alone issued total $1.5 billion of GSS in 2021, nearly 5 times higher than the value of $0.3 billion in 2020, maintaining stable growth for three consecutive years.

Latest News

Party General Secretary receives Russian PM

Party General Secretary receives Russian PM

Việt Nam always remembers the valuable support and assistance that the people of the former Soviet Union and Russia today have given to Việt Nam during its past struggle as well as national building and safeguarding at present, said the Party chief.
Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

The website said the banking sector, in particular, becomes a cornerstone of this economic resurgence, driving consumer credit growth and facilitating expansive economic opportunities.
Strategies to boost localisation rate is a must: experts

Strategies to boost localisation rate is a must: experts

Despite having 377 automobile enterprises, with nearly half being foreign direct investment (FDI) firms, the country relies heavily on imports, sourcing about 80 per cent of its production components, according to local experts.
Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

The website said the banking sector, in particular, becomes a cornerstone of this economic resurgence, driving consumer credit growth and facilitating expansive economic opportunities.

More News

Government law-building session discusses seven drafts

Government law-building session discusses seven drafts

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính highlighted the importance of institution building and perfection to smooth resources for development.
The bright prospects of Việt Nam

The bright prospects of Việt Nam's asset management industry

Việt Nam boasts 19,400 US dollar millionaires - a 98 per cent increase over the past decade.
Việt Nam needs policies to develop national enterprises

Việt Nam needs policies to develop national enterprises

The national enterprises contribute to innovating the growth economic model, improving the Vietnamese brand value and promoting participation of Vietnamese enterprises in the global value chain.
Deputy PM urges specific roadmap for EV shift, as air pollution worsens

Deputy PM urges specific roadmap for EV shift, as air pollution worsens

Efforts must be made to increase investment in green public transportation, establish convenient public transport routes and stations, and develop traffic flow plans for personal vehicles based on pollution levels in different areas.
Vietnam PMI stands at 49.8 in December

Vietnam PMI stands at 49.8 in December

While the total number of new business continued to rise, new export orders decreased for the second month running.
Việt Nam on track to become top tourist destination in the digital age

Việt Nam on track to become top tourist destination in the digital age

The Singaporean website opengovasia.com has published an article stating that Việt Nam is creating an ideal environment for a thriving digital ecosystem and technological advancements in the tourism sector, thanks to its over 78 million internet users and 73.3 per cent of the population active on social media.
PM Chính calls for optimal plan to streamline and restructure organisational apparatuses

PM Chính calls for optimal plan to streamline and restructure organisational apparatuses

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính emphasised that the restructuring of the organisational apparatus must adhere to the principles of efficiency and effectiveness.
Anti-wastefulness a key, urgent task for 2025: Party chief

Anti-wastefulness a key, urgent task for 2025: Party chief

The leader pointed to the need that the fight against corruption, wastefulness and negative phenomena should not impede socio-economic development or enable the abuse of anti-corruption efforts for personal gain.
Affirming Việt Nam’s standing in the flow of the era

Affirming Việt Nam’s standing in the flow of the era

On the occasion of New Year 2025, State President Lương Cường gave an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Party General Secretary receives Russian PM

Party General Secretary receives Russian PM

Việt Nam always remembers the valuable support and assistance that the people of the former Soviet Union and Russia today have given to Việt Nam during its past struggle as well as national building and safeguarding at present, said the Party chief.
Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

The website said the banking sector, in particular, becomes a cornerstone of this economic resurgence, driving consumer credit growth and facilitating expansive economic opportunities.
Strategies to boost localisation rate is a must: experts

Strategies to boost localisation rate is a must: experts

Despite having 377 automobile enterprises, with nearly half being foreign direct investment (FDI) firms, the country relies heavily on imports, sourcing about 80 per cent of its production components, according to local experts.
Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

Vietnamese economy on path to surpassing expectations: French paper

The website said the banking sector, in particular, becomes a cornerstone of this economic resurgence, driving consumer credit growth and facilitating expansive economic opportunities.
Government law-building session discusses seven drafts

Government law-building session discusses seven drafts

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính highlighted the importance of institution building and perfection to smooth resources for development.
Mobile Version