MARD raises PRRS alert

[27 May 2010]
Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has urged the northern province of Bac Giang to take swift action in containing blue-ear disease that has infected over 3000 pigs in 21 communes of the province that is home to nearly 1.1 million pigs or the third largest pig producing hub in the country. So far, the authorities have culled 800 pigs, disinfected farms, vaccinated the pigs and imposed a ban on movement of animals from the affected areas. Hoang Dang Huyen, Head of Bac Giang's Animal Health Department, said the disease spread quickly because the breeders did not inform the authorities that their pigs fell sick and tried to sell the sick pigs instead. So far, blue ear disease or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) has hit 15 provinces and cities across Vietnam with over 50,000 pigs infected.