In Vinh Thuy Commune (Quang Tri Province), African swine fever is breaking out strongly, causing heavy losses for livestock farmers. Many households have been left with nothing, while those remaining live in a state of anxiety, fearing the outbreak could strike at any time.
In recent days, the phone of the Vinh Thuy Commune African Swine Fever Prevention Team has been ringing nonstop. As soon as they hear that a herd of pigs has stopped eating, team members immediately head out to inspect. The sight of tarp-covered trucks carrying dead pigs for disposal has become familiar to local residents. The commune authorities have had to dig burial pits in advance in an area far from residential neighborhoods, turning it into a “graveyard” for diseased pigs.
According to Mr. Le Nghia, a member of the disease prevention team, there are hamlets where not a single pig remains. For farmers, just a few pigs are already valuable assets, but some households have lost more than 100 pigs in a short time, falling into dire straits.
The family of Mr. Le Van Anh (Thuy Ba Tay hamlet) is a typical case. In 2017, when live pig prices fell sharply, the family was forced to sell off hundreds of pigs, including breeding sows. By 2019, when prices began to recover, African swine fever broke out again, forcing him to destroy all 86 breeding sows and 70 market pigs. Despite state support, a debt of 2.6 billion VND and the risk of another outbreak have kept him from raising pigs again for many years.
At the end of 2024, seeing pig prices stabilize, Mr. Anh borrowed money to repair the barn and restock, hoping to pay down some of the debt. However, before he could recover his investment, the outbreak returned. “I’ve lost everything, debt piled on debt, and monthly interest of more than ten million VND has left my wife and me unable to eat or sleep. Now I don’t know what to use to pay it back,” he shared.
Not only households that have already had outbreaks are struggling; those with remaining herds are also deeply worried. Some farm owners require testing samples before selling market pigs to avoid risks. However, even when results are negative, traders still force prices down. Recently, the commune People’s Committee discovered a case of pig trading without a test certificate and promptly handled it.
Since July 23, the outbreak has appeared in 412 households across 18 of the commune’s 20 hamlets, forcing more than 2,000 pigs (with a total weight of over 134 tons) to be destroyed. Authorities and residents are making every effort to implement containment measures, but the spread remains very rapid.
Leaders of Vinh Thuy Commune said the disease prevention team is working with great responsibility, but the lack of funding support, supplies, and specialized equipment is making outbreak control very difficult.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM VEMEDIM
African swine fever causes severe losses and spreads rapidly, so farmers need to proactively prevent disease through biosecurity measures combined with boosting herd immunity:
- Clean, disinfect, and sanitize barns, feeders, and surrounding areas using effective disinfectants such as Vime Protex, Vimekon – helping eliminate pathogens, deodorize, and keep the farming environment clean.
- Control the source of breeding pigs and feed to prevent pathogens from entering from outside.
- Restrict people and vehicles from entering and leaving the farm, and carry out mandatory disinfection before entering the livestock area.
- Strengthen immunity for the herd with vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplements such as IMMU Booster, Vimekat – helping pigs stay healthy, eat well, and better resist disease-causing agents.
- Closely monitor pig health, detect abnormalities early, and immediately report them to veterinary authorities when signs appear.
Vemedim always accompanies livestock farmers with comprehensive solutions to help protect herds and minimize losses caused by disease outbreaks.
Vo Dung
Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/
