Nearly 35,500 sick pigs must be destroyed
According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ninh Binh province, as of November 20, there were 48 communes and wards in the province that had experienced African swine fever that had not been thoroughly controlled. From the beginning of November 2025 to now, there have been 12 more communes and wards with African swine fever. From July 1 to November 20, the whole province of Ninh Binh had nearly 35,500 pigs infected with African swine fever that had to be destroyed with a total weight of 2,177,962kg. Since the beginning of November alone, 190 pigs infected with African swine fever have been destroyed with a total weight of 13,342 kg.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ninh Binh province assessed that the risk of dangerous epidemics continuing to break out is very high due to many reasons such as: Recent rain and floods have caused pathogens to spread widely. In addition, unusual seasonal changes reduce the resistance of livestock. Worryingly, the African swine fever virus has changed to a new strain, causing the effectiveness of current disease prevention vaccines to decrease. Livestock, trade and slaughter activities have increased sharply, vaccination for livestock in some localities has not been fully implemented, and vaccination rates are low.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Dinh Van Tien - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ninh Binh province - said that in addition to the objective causes due to weather conditions and epidemics of the disease, there are many subjective reasons in leadership and direction in some localities that are not yet drastic and ineffective. Especially the work of reporting, monitoring and handling epidemics is not timely and effective. There are also cases of slaughtering, consuming sick pigs, and suspected illness. Sanitation, disinfection, disinfection, biosafety and herd management have not been guaranteed.
Control the epidemic, ensure safe livestock farming
In the face of the complicated developments of the African swine fever epidemic in Ninh Binh, on November 20, 2025, the Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee issued Directive No. 08/CT-UBND requesting all levels and sectors to focus on directing the work of preventing and controlling the African swine fever epidemic.
Accordingly, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes, wards, and Heads of departments and branches to be determined to control and end outbreaks in the area in the shortest time possible, not allowing the epidemic to break out and spread widely. The highest goal is to ensure food supply and food safety before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2026. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune/ward level must uphold the sense of responsibility, directly direct, mobilize funds and human resources to completely handle outbreaks, and strictly handle cases of hiding epidemics, not reporting or throwing animal carcasses into the environment. At the same time, review and vaccinate new vaccines, re-sharking vaccines, and additional vaccinations for livestock. The minimum requirement is that over 80% of all vaccinated flocks must be vaccinated.
