Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for joint efforts ofthe entire political system in the fight against African swine fever (ASF)which has spread across 34 cities and provinces nationwide.
TheGovernment leader made the request at a working session in Hanoi’s outskirtsdistrict of Dong Anh on May 19 with representatives of the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development (MARD), the People’s Committees of Hanoi and Dong Anhdistrict and local pig breeders.
Themeeting took place after PM Phuc visited a pig farm in Tien Duong commune, DongAnh district – one of the localities in Hanoi reporting the biggest number ofculled pigs due to the disease.
ThePM underlined the responsibility of heads of concerned agencies in the combatand asked the agencies and localities to double efforts in ASF prevention andcontrol.
Theveterinary sector needs to monitor and support pig farms that are free from thevirus in pork consumption, he said, adding that localities should update agenciesand people on developments of the disease.
Thevirus has hit pig farms in all 24 districts in Hanoi, killing ten percent oflocal pigs. In Dong Anh district alone, 629 heads, or one fifth of the totalpig flock were infected.
Chairmanof the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung reported that apart fromDong Anh, Soc Son and Phu Xuyen districts have been hard hit by the virus,which is showing signs of spreading.
MARDMinister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said about 1.5 million pigs or 5 percent of thecountry’s pig herds nationwide have been culled since the first case of AWF wasdetected in the northern province of Hung Yen on February 1 this year.
Withoutstronger preventive measures, the virus may spread in all localities, hewarned.-VNA
VNA
