Vietnam: Update on pig disease management

On August 14, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference to promote sustainable pig farming development in Hanoi to assess the current status of pig farming development, provide an update on the disease control situation, discuss solutions for developing sustainable pig farming, ensure traceability, biosecurity, and food safety, and to serve domestic consumption and export orientation.

At the conference, Mr. Phan Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health, reported on the disease situation and disease safety management in pig herds in Vietnam. Mr. Phan Quang Minh said that African swine fever (ASF) is still the most important disease in pigs. ASF still occurs sporadically across the country but is concentrated in the northern border provinces and the Central Highlands provinces. As of August 12, 2024, the country had 863 outbreaks in 46 provinces and cities, with 57,541 sick, dead, and culled animals. Currently, the country has 306 outbreaks in 100 districts of 29 provinces and cities that have not resolved. The number of sick pigs is 34,304 and the number of dead and culled pigs is 34,416. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of outbreaks increased 3.02-fold and the number of dead and culled pigs increased 3.87-fold.

The main cause of ASF is that the pathogen still exists in the pig population and has since 2019. There are still many difficulties in monitoring and detecting the pathogen due to the thin and weak veterinary force at the commune level, in addition, the work of handling the epidemic is still slow and has many shortcomings. In particular, all ASF cases mainly occurred on small farms, without biosecurity, poor disease prevention, and hygiene, poor breeding, and no use of vaccines.

Regarding foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), from the beginning of the year to August 12, 2024, there were 3 FMD type O outbreaks in pigs nationwide; the number of infected pigs was 86, the number of dead and culled pigs was 43 in Cao Bang, Quang Ngai, and Yen Bai provinces.

Regarding PRRS, from the beginning of the year until now, the whole country has recorded 1 outbreak of PRRS in Hoa Binh town, Hoa Binh district, Bac Lieu province; the number of dead and culled pigs was 35. Currently, the whole country has no outbreaks of PRRS.

Regarding swine influenza, the Department of Animal Health also deployed swine influenza surveillance in 8 provinces and cities with a total of 570 samples; of which, 6 samples were positive for Influenza A virus (accounting for 1.01%).

Common diseases such as classical swine fever, Pasteurellosis, Salmonellosis, swine erysipelas, etc. continue to be detected and well controlled.

Finally, to effectively control epidemics, the entire industry at all levels needs to apply many synchronous solutions such as:

• Implement well the direction and management of the national program on disease prevention.
• Conduct disease surveillance, timely detection, and treatment of diseases through the application of online disease reporting software models.
• Use preventative vaccines to contain and control outbreaks. Currently, there are many types of vaccines available in the country for different diseases and their effectiveness has been proven. For ASF vaccines, there are currently 2 vaccines in circulation, and over 2 million doses have been used in the field. According to data recorded by businesses and localities, there have been no cases of ASF after vaccination if the vaccine is used as prescribed, according to the manufacturer's instructions and injected correctly.
• Build an epidemiological map so that localities can choose appropriate preventative vaccines.
• Apply biosecurity in livestock farming on farms and in the region, build disease-free areas.
• Build a grassroots veterinary team, especially at the commune level.
• Management of transport control, slaughter, and veterinary hygiene.