December 14, 2006

Vietnam sees a drop in FMD cases

The number of provinces in Vietnam affected by foot-and-mouth disease has scaled down to seven from twenty-five in July, reports the Vietnam News Net.

The Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reported FMD cases in 260 bulls and buffaloes as well as 284 pigs in the provinces of Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang and Lang Son in the Northern region, Lam Dong in the central highlands region, and Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Tien Giang in the southern region.

Last week, over 60 bulls and buffaloes in Tuyen Quang were infected with foot-and-mouth disease. The provincial Veterinary Bureau has culled the animals and disinfected the affected areas, the department said.

However, most of these provinces are likely to be cleared of widespread FMD infestation as it reported no outbreaks within there weeks. 

Under a national agriculture development plan approved by the government in 2005, Vietnam should have 35-40 million pigs, 6.5-6.7 million bulls and cows, 2.8-3 million buffalos, and 380-390 million poultry by 2010.