PRRS: South Vietnam Takes Precaution

VIET NAM - Vietnam's southern regions are now taking precaution, seeing as to how PRRS has already broken out in 10 northern and central provinces. This was decided on Tuesday, at a meeting in HCM City.

9 May 2008

2 minute read

Regional Animal Health Agency Deputy Head Nguyen Xuan Binh told the meeting of agriculture ministry and animal health agency representatives infected pigs could have already been trucked to HCMC and Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai provinces.

Dong Nai Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Nguyen Van Giau said the province would not have detected infected pigs, some of which could have been hidden in coaches.

Giau said thousands of industrial park workers, lured by bargain basement prices, could have unknowingly purchased infected pork.

HCMC Animal Health Department Deputy Head Phan Xuan Thao said after blue ear disease broke out early last month in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, the number of pigs ferried from the province to HCMC increased between four and five times.

Blue ear disease, also known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), is highly fatal in pigs and has killed or led to the culling of more than 254,000 pigs since the first outbreak of the year was reported in late March.

View the ThanhNien News story by clicking here.