The incident is not an isolated incident but has lasted for many months, with hundreds of animal carcasses - mainly pigs - being released haphazardly into the water for daily life and production in more than 5 southern provinces and cities, including Ho Chi Minh City.
The Southern Irrigation Company has discovered more than 300 sick pigs in just the first 3 days of 2025. Those pigs are not simply animal waste. They are bicological bombs, containing billions of bacteria, viruses, mold - the agents of cholera, sepsis, foot-and-mouth disease, pig-staining bacteria... that can be spread by water, wind, flies. When dead pigs are thrown into the canal - which is originally used for domestic and industrial water supply - the danger is no longer in the barn, but has drifted straight to each family's meal.
It is worth mentioning that the pigs that were thrown have numbers. This shows that their origin can be traced - if serious involvement is involved. However, this situation continues to be true, although the Southern Irrigation Company has repeatedly sent petitions to local authorities and police. This reflects a laxity in veterinary management, the environment and even the responsibility of farmers.
Letting floating and decomposing animals in the water for half a year without strong enough sanctions is a failure in protecting the environment and public health. Pork farms cannot use the excuse of epidemics or economic losses to arbitrarily discard pig carcasses, because just one pig that is illegally discarded can spread pathogens throughout the region, affecting millions of people.
Phuoc Hoa - Dau Tieng canal water is supplied to Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Long An and Ho Chi Minh City - the most important industrial and urban area in the country. Without drastic action, this pollution will spread, be difficult to control, affecting not only people's health but also trust in the environmental management system and food safety.
It is time for the provinces to act as if responding to the epidemic. It is not just a matter of environmental sanitation, it is a matter of biosecurity. It is necessary to strictly inspect livestock farms, trace the origin of pigs with codes, and criminally handle acts of deliberately discharging sick pigs that are dangerous to society. At the same time, it is necessary to strongly communicate so that people and farm owners understand that: maintaining environmental hygiene is not only a legal obligation, but a moral responsibility to the community.
Each pig's body thrown is a warning. Don't let the domestic water source become pathogens until we find the culprit. At that time, the consequences will no longer be the numbers in the report - but the lives, the health of ourselves and the next generation.
