October 3, 2011

Vietnamese provinces to closely monitor animal diseases

To protect the livestock production, Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has appealed to provinces and cities to tighten control on animal diseases.

The ministry demanded localities to closely monitor on animal disease inspection, animal transport, and slaughtering, as well as apply timely proper measures to prevent spreading.

Local authorities have to stop transport and trade of infected animals, especially animal smuggling via border with China and Cambodia, the ministry said.

The ministry also urged southern provinces of Tay Ninh, Long An, Tien Giang and Soc Trang to put down blue-ear disease in pig herds after 16 local communes reported 3,050 pigs infected.

Meanwhile, the bird flu occurs in the northern province of Thai Binh and two central provinces of Quang Tri and Quang Ngai. It is forecast to pose big threat to the country's poultry sector in coming winter as Vietnam has no suitable vaccines to cope with the disease-caused virus mutations.