May 3, 2012

Blue-ear pig disease affects Vietnam's five provinces

Following Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Nam Dinh and PhuTho, Lao Cai has become the fifth province affected by blue-ear pig disease, according to the Animal Health Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In Lao Cai, the epidemic has spread to seven communes and wards in three districts, and nearly 700 diseased pigs have been culled.

The Animal Health Department has provided the provincial animal health agency with 20,000 doses of vaccines to contain the disease.

Dam XuanThanh, Vice Head of the Department, has asked provinces and cities nationwide to strengthen prevention efforts and immediately detect any new hot spots of the epidemic.

He called for broader awareness campaigns to get more local people involved in the fight against the disease.