Currently, the amount of pigs in HCM City only meets 12-15 percent of the residents’ demand for pork. Therefore, the city has to buy pigs from other localities, mostly Dong Nai, Long An and Binh Duong. Everyday, about 8,000-9,000 pigs are transported to HCM City, putting the city at risk of being seriously infected by the deadly disease.

HCM City has established checkpoints in Hoc Mon Cu Chi and Binh Chanh districts to control the transport, slaughter and trading of pigs in infected areas.

Phan Xuan Thao, Head of the HCM City Department for Animal Health, says that his department is intensifying strict measures to prevent the disease spreading.

Mr Thao says that the illegal transport of sick pigs from other provinces to HMC City has risen sharply. The municipal Animal Health Department has already uncovered more than two tonnes of pork without a clear origin being transported to HCM City.

To deal with the spread of the epidemic, he says that the Department has requested all 24 veterinary stations in the city to monitor the transport, trade and slaughter of pigs. However, there is growing concern about the illegal transport of sick pigs from the infected areas to the city and vice versa, and the selling of pork of unclear origin on flea markets in Thu Duc and Binh Thanh districts.