Thanh Hoa at high risk from spread of African swine fever

In total, ASF outbreaks have been detected across seven hamlets and six communes in the districts of Yen Dinh and Thieu Hoa in Thanh Hoa province so far.

The first ASF outbreak was initially discovered in a pig farm belonging to a local resident in Dinh Long commune, Yen Dinh district, on February 25. On March 5, Thieu Hoa district became the second region in Thanh Hoa to report the ASF epidemic.

Trinh Van Suy, Chairman of Thieu Hoa district’s People’s Committee, said despite taking drastic measures, outbreaks of ASF had been reported in an additional four communes in the region. 

Mr Suy noted that, although the ASF outbreak had been discovered in Thieu Phuc commune in Thieu Hoa district, neighbouring communes have been asked to set up quarantine stations in order to tighten their control over the transportation of pigs, pork products, and slaughtering activities.

Pig farms have also been requested to disinfect and sterilize their breeding facilities each day.

Local authorities have so far been forced to cull 123 pigs belonging to six households across four communes.

In addition to this, many households have voluntarily culled hundreds of their own chickens and ducks to prevent the epidemic spreading further.

Currently the ASF epidemic has widely spread throughout Thanh Hoa province.

Further measures are needed to control the transportation of pigs at the gateways of the province in order to prevent the outbreak spreading further south.