Focus on preventing and controlling foot and mouth disease in buffaloes and cows

Currently, in the communes of Huc and Huong Phung, Huong Hoa district, there is an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle and buffaloes. The source of the cattle is confirmed to have received support from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas (DTTS&MN). Immediately after detecting FMD in cattle, the local authorities and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province and district promptly supported people to implement preventive measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Vaccination against autumn diseases for livestock in Quang Tri town - Photo: LE AN

Mrs. Ho Thi Ta Pung's household in Ta Cu village, Huc commune, Huong Hoa district has just received support for a cow from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas. One of the cows has symptoms such as mouth ulcers, toenail cracks, open hoof edges, and difficulty walking. According to Mrs. Ta Pung, one day after receiving the cow, she discovered that it had difficulty walking and was drooling, so she reported it to the local authorities.

Huc commune received 53 cows from this program and provided them to people in 5 villages. Therefore, immediately after receiving the news that the cows showed signs of disease, the commune People's Committee directed the commune's agricultural extension staff and the commune's agricultural officers to inspect the disease situation in the villages that received the cows; at the same time, strengthen monitoring and inspection of the disease situation in the livestock herd throughout Huc commune.

The provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (DAH) and the Huong Hoa District DAH Station also promptly coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Huong Hoa District and local authorities to inspect the epidemic situation and collect samples for testing. According to the test results of the Region III DAH, the sample collected from the household of Ms. Ho Thi Ta Pung, Ta Cu village, Huc commune, Huong Hoa district was positive for the FMD virus Serotype O. According to the report of the Huong Hoa District DAH Station, out of 53 cows that Huc commune residents received from the program's support, 9 were infected with FMD.

Also in the cattle support period of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, Huong Phung Commune received 62 cows from the program to provide to 31 households in 5 villages. Huong Phung Commune People's Committee also conducted an inspection and discovered that 14 cows/12 households in 5 villages that had just received the supported cows had symptoms of FMD. Immediately after the discovery, the Commune People's Committee coordinated with the breeding unit to treat the above-mentioned sick cows. The breeding unit provided 379 doses of FMD vaccine to carry out encirclement vaccination in the above-mentioned villages.

FMD is a dangerous disease in livestock, so the Provincial Department of Animal Health and the Animal Health Station of Huong Hoa district have directly worked with the People's Committees of Huong Phung and Huc communes to promptly deploy disease prevention and control measures such as: counting and checking livestock in the area; informing people in the commune about the disease situation to participate in disease prevention and control activities; strengthening disease surveillance; promptly detecting unusual signs of livestock to report and implement disease prevention and control measures according to instructions.

Require the household owner to quarantine the newly received cows, not to let them come into contact with or graze in the same pasture with the existing buffaloes and cows in the locality; treat sick cows according to the instructions of the professional agency. Provide instructions on cleaning and disinfecting the livestock area and barns. At the same time, assign staff to stay in the area to direct, monitor the situation, and supervise the epidemic prevention and control work in the localities. Strengthen the inspection, supervision, and daily reporting of epidemic developments to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and the District People's Committee for timely direction.

To control and prevent the spread of the disease as soon as possible, the Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Nguyen Trung Hau, proposed that the People's Committee of Huong Hoa district temporarily suspend the purchase, sale and transportation of buffaloes and cows in the epidemic area. For localities with epidemics, direct communes to strictly implement regulations on disease prevention and control, comply with instructions from specialized veterinary agencies; require breeders to report to the authorities when seeing buffaloes and cows showing signs of FMD for timely handling; do not sell sick or suspected buffaloes and cows; mobilize all forces and organizations to quickly surround, extinguish and prevent the spread of the disease.

For the remaining communes and towns of Huong Hoa district, the provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine also requested to strengthen inspection and supervision, early detection of epidemics and continue to implement measures to prevent and control FMD according to the directives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Provincial People's Committee.

Strictly implement the directive document of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Official Dispatch No. 931/SNN-CNTY dated March 28, 2024 on strengthening livestock breeding work in the province and Instruction No. 52/HD-CNTY dated February 7, 2024 of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on guidance on production and trading of livestock breeds and livestock breeding products; quarantine areas; collection of animals, animal products and transportation of animals and animal products in Quang Tri province.

The place to carry out the inspection of imported breeding animals must be carried out at the final destination or at the delivery locations during transportation according to the quarantine certificate. Closely monitor the newly imported livestock; report to the competent authority when detecting sick livestock.

Huong Hoa District's Animal Health Station dispatches staff to monitor the situation, supervise disease prevention and control work; provide guidance on treating sick livestock, disinfecting epidemic areas and livestock households. Report daily developments to the Provincial Animal Health Department and the District People's Committee for timely direction.

In the face of the FMD outbreak in 2 communes of Huong Hoa district, the Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Stations of districts, cities and towns also need to strengthen the control of transportation and inspection of livestock susceptible to FMD brought to slaughter. Report promptly when detecting livestock suspected of having the disease. Review and implement FMD vaccination for the 2024 autumn crop for buffalo and cow herds according to the vaccination plan.

Direct veterinary staff to strengthen disease surveillance, request to strengthen inspection, supervision and immediate reporting of disease. Advise localities to implement prevention and control measures according to regulations. Strengthen the management of breeding animals, especially for livestock susceptible to FMD of programs and projects that support livestock breeds in the management area. The export and import of breeding animals must strictly comply with regulations, especially full vaccination of all types of vaccines; have measures to closely monitor livestock during the quarantine period for export and import.

The urgent and strict implementation of measures to prevent and control FMD has promptly controlled the disease. By August 14, 2024, the number of cattle infected with the disease had basically recovered. However, people also need to raise awareness of disease prevention and control for livestock so that the source of cattle received from the support of the program and project can promote the effectiveness and significance of supporting people to develop the economy.

Vo Thai Hoa

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/tap-trung-phong-chong-benh-lo-mom-long-mong-tren-trau-bo-187641.htm