Vietnam scrambles to combat pig epidemic

The worst-hit Quang Nam received VND10 billion, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Ngai VND2 billion each, and Danang VND1 billion.

Blue ear disease, known in medical parlance as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), hit over 30,000 pigs in these places in the last month.

At a briefing Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said it would set up a special task force to lead the fight against the pandemic.

It instructed affected provinces to take drastic measures to contain the epidemic like preventing illicit transport of infected pigs, inoculation, quarantine of infected sites, and slaughter of sick animals.

Failure to adopt these measures would attract strong penalties, it warned.

Deputy Minister Bui Ba Bong told affected provinces to expedite the mass cull of infected pigs and reporting of fresh epidemic zones.

Any cover-ups would be seriously punished, Bong warned.

The Veterinary Bureau announced Tuesday that the streptococcus bacteria, or strep. suis, to which pigs are susceptible, had not spread on a large scale as earlier feared.

The ministry said though the pig epidemic had shown signs of a letup in central provinces, authorities should not become complacent. It could reemerge at any time.

More of the latest Pig Industry News

•   Uncertainities in Tackling GHG Emissions Accepted
•   Hans Enters Voluntary Administration
•   Milk Crisis Spills Out on All Food Sectors
•   Bavarian Farm Provides Feeding for 750 Breeding Sows
•   EU Pig Prices: Lateral Movement in Markets
•   Pork Commentary: Darkest Before the Dawn
•   TOPIGS Canada Purchases Maple Leaf Agri-Farms
•   New PRRS Virus, Possible Vaccine Failures Reported
•   Canada to Consult WTO on COOL Regulations
•   Producers Burdened with New Disposal Cost