Prime Minister requests strict implementation of measures to prevent African swine fever

The epidemic is on the rise, the risk of widespread spread is very high, which can affect food supply, consumer price index and the environment.

Spraying barns to kill African swine fever pathogens. (Photo: Hoang Nhi/VNA)

Authorized by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang recently signed Directive No. 21/CT-TTg requiring ministries, branches and localities to strictly implement measures to prevent and control African swine fever.

The directive clearly states: According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the beginning of the year, the whole country has had over 660 outbreaks of African swine fever in 44 provinces and cities, forcing the destruction of over 42,400 pigs, especially in the provinces of Bac Kan, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Son La, Quang Nam and Long An... causing losses to livestock farmers.

The epidemic is on the rise, the risk of widespread spread is very high, which can affect food supply, consumer price index and the environment.

To prevent, combat and control the epidemic promptly and effectively, the Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to report to the Standing Committees of provincial and municipal Party Committees to focus on leadership and direction, and proactively organize and implement drastic, synchronous and effective prevention and control measures in accordance with the direction of the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister and the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In particular, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities must directly direct and mobilize local resources to organize the complete handling of epidemic outbreaks, not allowing new outbreaks to arise; organize the handling and destruction of sick pigs, suspected sick pigs, and dead pigs; proactively implement policies to support farmers suffering losses due to epidemics in accordance with the law; promptly detect, prevent and resolutely handle cases of buying, selling, transporting sick pigs, and dumping dead pigs, causing disease spread and environmental pollution.

Localities guide livestock farmers to increase hygiene and disinfection of barns and surrounding areas at high risk; promote biosafety in livestock farming, and build disease-free livestock facilities and areas.

Along with that, it is necessary to review and specifically and accurately count the total pig herd and the number of pigs that have been vaccinated against African swine fever; on that basis, approve the plan, prioritize the allocation of funds for centralized vaccine purchase and organize synchronous vaccination at the same time in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister in Directive No. 29/CT-TTg, Official Dispatches No. 1097/CD-TTg, No. 58/CD-TTg and instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and People's Committees at all levels to strictly implement disease prevention and control, especially in areas where there is an epidemic or is at risk of an epidemic; build disease-safe livestock farming chains and areas.

At the same time, strengthen information and widely disseminate information in many forms about the dangerous nature of the disease, the risk of disease recurrence and spread, disease prevention measures and the use of African swine fever vaccine for pigs according to the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Localities must strictly implement the reporting regime, ensuring complete, timely and accurate disease data on the Online Animal Disease Reporting System (VAHIS); strictly handle cases of concealing diseases, slow reporting leading to disease spread; consider handling the responsibility of leaders if they are subjective or negligent in leadership and direction, leading to disease outbreaks in the management area.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to proactively arrange funding and resources to effectively implement the National Plan for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control for the 2020-2025 period according to assigned tasks and authorities to achieve the objectives of the Plan.

The Ministry focuses on directing, organizing, guiding, urging and inspecting disease prevention and control; proactively and closely monitoring the disease situation, ensuring early detection, warning and directing timely and thorough handling of outbreaks, preventing widespread disease spread; urging localities to urgently develop, approve, allocate funds and effectively implement the contents of the National Plan for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control for the 2020-2025 period.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs market management forces and relevant units to coordinate with veterinary forces, police, and traffic inspectors to strengthen control, detect, promptly prevent, and strictly handle cases of trading and transporting sick pigs and pig products of unknown origin and not yet quarantined in the market to prevent diseases and other animal epidemics.

The Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of Information and Communications to direct central and local press agencies to step up propaganda on disease prevention and control measures so that people do not panic and proactively apply disease prevention measures according to the instructions of specialized agencies.

The Ministry of Finance, based on the state budget's balancing capacity, shall allocate funding sources to ministries, agencies and localities to serve the prevention and control of African Swine Fever and implement the National Plan for the prevention and control of African Swine Fever for the period 2020-2025 according to the current state budget decentralization, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the law on the state budget and other relevant laws.

The Ministry of Home Affairs coordinates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide localities in perfecting the specialized veterinary management agencies at the provincial and district levels to ensure forces for preventing and controlling animal diseases.

Relevant ministries, branches and members of the National Steering Committee for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control, according to their assigned functions and tasks, proactively direct specialized functional agencies to coordinate to resolutely and effectively implement drastic measures to prevent and control African swine fever.

(Source: VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/thu-tuong-yeu-cau-thuc-hien-nghiem-cac-bien-phap-phong-dich-ta-lon-chau-phi-215315.htm