Blue-ear disease threatens to spread across Vietnam

Blue-ear disease, which has been rampant in northern Vietnam, is likely to spread to the central and southern regions, according to the Department of Veterinary under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The disease had spread to 12 provinces as of May 2 with Ha Nam and Lang Son in the north and Nghe An in central Vietnam, the department said, adding the disease has affected nearly 40,000 pigs, of which nearly 17,000 pigs were destroyed.

The imminent raining season will prompt not only the spread of blue-ear disease but also the recurrence of foot-and-mouth disease among cattle, as well as bird flu among poultry, according to the department.

To combat the diseases, localities nationwide have been urged to speed up vaccination and to tighten control over transport of pig and cattle in and out of the disease-hit areas.

The government has decided to provide farmers whose pigs were destroyed with VND25,000 (US$1.32)/kg. Since the outbreak, pork prices have dropped to VND18,000 (US$0.95)/kg in the northern provinces.