December 26, 2023

Small-scale farming blamed for continuing ASF spread in Lang Son, Vietnam

African swine fever (ASF) has yet to be brought under control in Vietnam's Lang Son province, with the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine blaming it on small-scale farming and lack of adherence to barn hygiene procedures.

In particular, livestock households in some localities arbitrarily restock their herds without ensuring safe and sanitary conditions and do not follow recommendations from authorities.

Lang Son has over 180,000 pigs. Up to 80% of households in the province raise pigs on small-scale farms.

ASF had struck again in Lang Son, in March 2023.

As of December 17, the province has had four outbreaks in less than 21 days; Chi Lang district still has two outbreaks, and Loc Binh and Van Lang districts each have one outbreak.

The province has recorded 86 outbreaks in 628 households and 174 villages, as well as hamlets in 10 districts with a total of over 2,000 infected pigs having to be culled.

Currently, only Lang Son city has not recorded ASF outbreaks.

- Vietnam News Agency