February 2, 2007

FMD erupts in Vietnam

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has spread to nine provinces in Vietnam as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) urge localities to take immediate action to stamp out the epidemic before it proliferates to other areas.

The affected provinces are Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Can Tho City, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, Thai Nguyen, Dong Nai, Kon Tum and Phu Tho.

Seven hundred buffaloes and cows and 2,000 pigs have been struck with the disease.

The province of Kon Tum has the biggest casualty with 1,500 infected hogs. 

In Directive 321 issued on January 31, MARD chief Cao Duc Phat asks affected cities and provinces to mobilise all necessary resources to completely isolate and destroy infected cattle and vaccinate infected areas.

Minister Phat particularly called on cattle traders to voluntarily take part in the disease prevention campaign.

The minister also requested a close monitoring of the disease in the countryside with regular check-up points to inspect cattle trading.

He also ordered local authorities to develop detailed disease prevention plans focusing on intensified vaccination

and registration of animals with MARD's Veterinary Department.

Veterinary Department head Bui Quang Anh earlier warned that FMD could break out after the lunar New Year as communities usually ignore vaccination programs implemented by the government.