September 19, 2007

Blue ear strikes Vietnam anew  

After lying low for several weeks, blue ear disease has hit pigs in Khanh Hoa and Ca Mau provinces, confirms Vietnam's Department of Animal Health on Tuesday (September 18). 

Also known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, the disease has killed 91 pigs reared by seven households in Khanh Hoa in the central region.

The disease also infected 243 pigs bred by the Agricultural Seeding Centre in Ca Mau province in Southern Vietnam.

Authorities have already started the eradication process through vaccination, sterilising and slaughtering animals.

Blue ear disease first hit the central region in June and rapidly spread all over the country, infecting around 60,000 pigs. The country declared itself blue ear disease free in end-August.