African swine fever spreads to 28 communes across Lai Chau

The department said that after the first outbreak of ASF was reported on March 19 in Then Sin commune, Tam Duong district, the epidemic has spread to several areas across the region and local authorities have encountered difficulties in their fight against the disease.

As a result of the spread of ASF, more than 2,000 pigs have been culled including over 1,300 that were known to be infected.

Currently, Lai Chau has declared ASF an epidemic and has taken drastic measures to prevent it from spreading further. The locality has set up a total of 79 quarantine stations to monitor the transportation of pigs and pork products through the area.

Nguyen Manh Thuong, deputy director of the Lai Chau animal husbandry and veterinary sub-department under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said relevant agencies have been co-ordinating alongside local authorities to strictly control the transportation of animals at quarantine stations. 

They have also sprayed more than 7,600 litres of disinfectant throughout breeding establishments.

The total quantity of chemicals supplied to localities in the region has so far amounted to more than 10,000 litres and 52 tons of lime powder. In addition, the province has also tightened control over the slaughter and sale of dead and infected animals in the region.