October 27,  2020

 
Laos strengthens defense against ASF

Laos is pushing efforts to support local pig farmers following two outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in the last two years.

The country detected ASF in May 2019, and by November that year, the disease had spread to 170 villages in 57 districts of 18 provinces, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bounkhuang Khambounheuang.

The first outbreak resulted in 16,576 infected pigs while authorities culled another 4,689.

The year's second phase outbreak from June to October has affected 43 villages in 15 districts of northern provinces. Some 2,198 pigs have died with another 2,147 destroyed.

Bounkhuang explained the disease was extremely contagious, especially among smallholder farms which use basic rearing methods with low biosecurity. Feeding pigs unprocessed food waste and selling infected livestock to other farmers were contributing factors to the widespread outbreaks.

According to the Center for Animal Disease Research, the epidemic has eased somewhat in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the ministry is stepping up measures with provincial authorities to control ASF.

Bounkhuang called on livestock and fisheries offices throughout the country to remain vigilant and continue collecting and monitoring information on all types of animal husbandry as the basis for planning against disease outbreaks.

 
- Xinhua