Long An is urging the prevention of the spread of African swine fever in the province.

LONG AN — The southern province of Long An is urging the prevention of the spread of African swine fever in the province.

In light of the increasing spread of the disease among pig herds, Chairman of Long An People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Út has instructed relevant departments, sectors, and local authorities to strengthen their disease prevention and control efforts, ensuring the timely handling and eliminating of the risk of African swine fever (ASF) spreading within the province.

Accordingly, functional sectors are guiding pig farmers to strictly implement daily sanitation measures, including disinfecting breeding areas and their surroundings with lime powder and chemicals. 

Measures are being enforced to ensure that households and farms with pigs that are subject to culling due to the disease fully comply with disinfection, sanitation, and sterilisation protocols to eradicate pathogens and prevent disease spread. 

The authorities are also enhancing the control of pig transportation and pig products in line with regulations, particularly by tightening control in border areas to prevent the illegal import of pigs and pig products into Long An and by organising ASF vaccination programmes.

Additionally, local units are focusing resources and timely financial support for communal governments to effectively handle ASF outbreaks and prevent the emergence of new ones.

They are also overseeing the culling of infected, suspected, and deceased pigs due to the disease; conducting comprehensive sanitation and disinfection using lime powder and chemicals; and strictly addressing cases of illegal trade, transportation, and disposal of infected or suspected pigs, which risk spreading the disease and polluting the environment.

Since the beginning of the year, Long An Province has reported 12 ASF outbreaks across 12 households in 11 communes and seven districts, including Mộc Hóa, Tân Hưng, Thạnh Hóa, Bến Lức, Vĩnh Hưng, Tân Trụ, and Châu Thành. 

Authorities have so far culled over 400 pigs, with a total weight exceeding 16 tonnes. — VNS