HÀ NỘI – Party committees at all levels, local governments and social organisations must make strong efforts to fight African swine fever, said a directive issued yesterday by the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee.

To cope with the disease which has hit 34 provinces and cities and caused big losses for pig farmers, the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee called for stronger measures to control the outbreak.

The fight against African swine fever must be a key and urgent task for the Government and related ministries, said the directive.

The ministries and local governments must control the outbreak in the shortest time to ensure sustainable socio-economic development and improve people's lives.

Party members and people should be provided with information on the danger of the disease to prevent outbreaks and protect pig production and distribution, while avoiding confusion in society, the directive said.

The agricultural sector should prepare measures to restore pig breeding when the outbreak is fully controlled, as well as set up plans to raise other animals and fishery production.

People’s committees of provinces and cities must ensure financial and human resources to fight African swine fever and other diseases.

Appeals for financial contribution and technical assistance from organisations and individuals from both domestic and abroad must be launched to help farmers affected by the outbreak.

So far, 1.5 million infected pigs have been culled since African swine fever entered the country in February this year. – VNS