Focus on organizing vaccination against disease for livestock in Vietnam

Focus on organizing vaccination against disease for livestock in Vietnam​ (Image from the internet)

On April 09, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam issued Official Dispatch 2560/BNN-TY regarding the organization of vaccination for livestock.

Focus on organizing vaccination against disease for livestock in Vietnam

According to reports from the veterinary management agencies, in the first three months of 2024, the whole country recorded: 06 outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI) A/H5N1 in 06 provinces and cities, requiring the culling of nearly 9,000 poultry, notably with 01 human fatality due to AI A/H5N1 virus infection and 01 person infected with AI A/H9 virus is undergoing treatment; 159 outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in 30 provinces, requiring the culling of nearly 5,000 pigs (an increase of more than 60% compared to the same period last year); 26 outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in 09 provinces (an increase of 31%); 43 outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in 05 provinces; and 101 rabies cases in 25 provinces. Active surveillance results show that these pathogens are circulating widely with a fairly high incidence. The risk of dangerous epidemics in livestock and their spread to humans is likely to remain high, spreading quickly over a wide area in the near future, causing significant economic losses, affecting livestock development, public health, and the environment.

Actual inspections in many localities show that: (i) The vaccination rate is very low, in many places reaching only below 10%, with many herds of livestock, poultry, and pets not vaccinated or having used up or nearing the end of immunity; (ii) Many localities are slow to approve, yet to allocate, or have not allocated funds for disease prevention and control, purchasing vaccines, and organizing vaccinations; (iii) Some localities face difficulties in approving vaccine procurement bids or assigning district-level localities to approve vaccine procurement plans, leading to unsynchronized efforts and failing to meet epidemic prevention and control requirements; (iv) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued many directives on disease prevention and vaccination, especially directives on the use of vaccines for AI, Rabies, ASF, FMD, and LSD; however, the implementation in many localities (especially at the district, commune, village/hamlet levels) has been ineffective, leading to widespread disease outbreaks.

To prevent widespread dangerous diseases and prevent their transmission to humans, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities to urgently direct local departments, sectors, and governments at all levels to comprehensively and rigorously implement disease prevention and control measures according to the Veterinary Law, guiding documents for the implementation of the Veterinary Law, National Programs, and Plans approved by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, and the Official Telegrams and Directives of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam; focusing on the following key points:

- Urgently approve and allocate resources and funds to promptly and effectively implement the following: (i) National Plan for AI prevention and control, 2019-2025; (ii) National Plan for ASF prevention and control, 2020-2025; (iii) National Program for FMD prevention and control, 2021-2025; (iv) National Plan for LSD prevention and control, 2021-2025; (v) National Program for Rabies prevention and control, 2022-2030.

- Accurately survey the total livestock population and the number of animals subject to vaccination by disease in the localities; provide information and propagate the dangers of epidemics, the benefits of livestock vaccination, and the legal penalties for violations.

- Urgently organize mass vaccination in the first batch of 2024 (April-May 2024) for AI (including vaccinating with AI A/H5, A/H9 vaccines to reduce the risk of A/H9 virus infection in poultry, reduced egg-laying and the risk of transmission to humans), Rabies, Anthrax, ASF, FMD, LSD, and other diseases; review and administer booster doses to ensure at least 80% of livestock are adequately and correctly vaccinated.

- Organize the vaccination for ASF following the directive from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Official Dispatch 4870/BNN-TY dated July 24, 2023, on the use of vaccines for ASF prevention.

- Fully and promptly report the epidemic situation and vaccination results through the online Animal Disease Information System (VAHIS).

- Direct the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and local People's Committees to establish working groups to inspect and supervise animal disease prevention and control and vaccination efforts in the localities.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 2560/BNN-TY issued on April 09, 2024.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE