PRRS: Vietnam Sees Signs of Encouragement

VIET NAM - According to Thanhnien News, there have been no new sightings of blue ear disease in the last three days, which is a positive sign, particularly for Thanh Hoa, one of the more hard-hit areas in Viet Nam.
calendar icon 5 May 2008
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The spread of blue ear pig disease, which has ravaged herds in 10 provinces, has slowed but the risk of recurrence remains high, officials have said.

The report was made by Mai Van Ninh (Local People's Committee Chairman) on Sunday at a government meeting.

Ha Tinh, where the first recurrence of the disease was reported this year, recorded no new outbreaks in 46 out of 77 affected communes, provincial leader Tran Minh Ky said.

However, “the development of the disease is still very complicated,” Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat told the meeting, which was broadcast live on a state television channel.

“All localities must be extremely watchful to prevent the disease from spreading,” Phat said.

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.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai promised the government would support pig farmers by extending current loan terms and providing more loans.

Hai asked administrations of provinces and cities nationwide to carry out necessary measures to contain and prevent the disease.

In the long term, he said, animal breeding should follow a concentrated “semi-industrial farming” model to ensure “sustainable development.”

Vietnam has battled blue ear pig disease on and off throughout the north, south and central regions over the past two years.

The agricultural ministry plans to conduct testing of imported PRRS vaccines in several provinces.

View the ThanhNien News story by clicking here.

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