The Vietnamese prime minister on Apr 21 issued an official document urging provincial and municipal authorities to take proper measures to cope with blue-ear disease in a move to put the disease under control.

The PM also requested the provinces to publicise the situation, urging them to check the affected areas while strictly banning transportation, slaughtering and selling of pigs affected by the disease.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will send an inspection delegation to check the disease in the affected areas and to instruct localities on how best to prevent the disease's spread.

According to the Department of Veterinary under the MARD, blue-ear disease has spread to six provinces in the north, including Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong, killing 10,000 hogs.