US stands with Vietnam in fight against African swine fever

During the three-day event, veterinary experts are expected to share their experience in dealing with the ongoing African swine fever (ASF) epidemic. Discussions about the US agriculture sector’s experience in preventing and controlling animal diseases are vital.

Upon addressing the workshop’s opening ceremony, Pham Van Dong, director of the Department of Animal Health, said the US has been one of the leading countries giving active support to Vietnam in combating the ASF epidemic. Moreover, they were also quick to dispatch inspection teams to localities to assess the risk of the disease spreading.

Furthermore, the US has also provided Vietnam with the essential laboratory equipment to diagnose, assess, and find solutions that could serve to prevent the spread of disease.

During the workshop, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, the US Ambassador to Vietnam, noted that both countries enjoy close relations across multiple fields, including in agriculture. The US is also proud to have a track record of controlling animal diseases effectively.

The US has yet to detect any outbreaks of ASF, and the experience of American workers will help Vietnam in its efforts to combat the epidemic, he said.

According to information released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the ASF outbreak was first detected in Vietnam back in February 2019, it has so far spread to over 7,600 communes across 63 provinces and cities nationwide.

As a result of the epidemic, the total number of culled pigs has reached five million, accounting for 7 per cent of the country's total pig flocks. At present, there are still 4,500 communes that have suffered ASF outbreaks and have yet to pass 30 days of no fresh cases occurring.