November 18, 2025

 

ASF spreading fast in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

 

 

African swine fever (ASF) is spreading rapidly in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

 

Across the region, thousands of pig-raising households, together with provincial veterinary forces, are implementing strict, urgent measures to stop the outbreak from expanding especially during the final months of the year.

 

In Vinh Long Province, authorities have established 20 animal-health checkpoints on national and provincial highways leading into gateway communes, such as Cau Ngang, Nhi Truong, Vinh Kim, and Long Hiep.

 

At the Long Hiep checkpoint, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Van Dong affirmed that checkpoints operate around the clock. All trucks carrying live pigs or pork products must present release permits, health certificates, and other required documents.

 

"The disease-control measures will be enforced strictly before, during, and after Lunar New Year 2026," Dong said.

 

According to Thai Hoang Nam, Deputy Head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sub-Department of An Giang Province, the unit is implementing a series of measures to prevent ASF from spreading further. These include ensuring sufficient disinfectant for farming households and market managers. At Vam Cong ferry connecting Dong Thap and An Giang provinces, the checkpoint has been instructed to tightly inspect all pig shipments, verify origin, and strictly penalise violations.

 

According to Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment in Tay Ninh Province, some households still lack proper disease-prevention awareness. Some have failed to report cases, or refused to cooperate with authorities in containing and destroying infected pigs.

 

To address this, livestock authorities of Tay Ninh Province are working with commune governments and related agencies to intensify communication efforts, helping farmers to understand the consequences of ASF and encouraging them to cooperate fully. Local authorities are also considering stronger sanctions for those who deliberately conceal outbreaks.

 

Beyond immediate solutions including early detection, quarantine, and destruction of infected pig, livestock agencies are guiding farmers to shift production methods in ways that better prevent ASF outbreaks. The focus is on overcoming small-scale, fragmented farming practices and encouraging gradual transition to larger, closed-loop farm models that meet biosecurity standards.

 

Provinces are also promoting high-tech livestock applications, from controlled-environment barns to automated feeding and herd-management systems. Such innovations improve disease control, reduce risks, and enhance long-term sustainability for the livestock sector.

  

In the past three months, ASF outbreaks have surged across Mekong Delta provinces. In Tay Ninh Province alone, October 2025 recorded seven outbreaks across six communes and wards, with more than 150 pigs destroyed, totaling 9.6 tons. In Vinh Long Province, four communes have already declared outbreaks, while two others are classified as high-risk areas.

 

- SGGP