The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Minh Hoan, highly appreciated the mission, enthusiasm and work of those working in the veterinary sector. Picture: Linh Linh.
Number of dangerous outbreaks reduced by 80%
The report on the results of the activities of the Ministry of Animal Health in the first half of 2023 at the preliminary meeting on the afternoon of July 7 in Hanoi showed that diseases in livestock, especially dangerous diseases, have been well controlled.
There have been 12 outbreaks of A/H5N1 bird flu across the country, with nearly 14,000 poultry infected, dead and destroyed. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of outbreaks fell by 45%, the number of dead and destroyed poultry fell by 76%.
The total number of pigs infected, killed and killed by African swine fever is 7,000. The number of disease outbreaks fell by 79% and the number of dead and culled pigs by 84% compared to the same period in 2022.
In the first six months of the year, there were 61 outbreaks of rashes across the country. The total number of infected cattle was 346, the number of cattle destroyed was 76.
Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of outbreaks fell by over 71%, the number of infected cattle fell by over 84% and the number of cattle culled fell by almost 82%.
Minister Le Minh Hoan and Director of the Ministry of Animal Health Nguyen Van Long chaired the conference to review the work of the first six months of the year and implement the tasks of the last six months of 2023 in the veterinary sector. Picture: Linh Linh.
In terms of animal-to-human infectious diseases, four outbreaks of anthrax have been recorded across the country, leaving 20 buffalo and cows sick and dying.
The main reason is that cattle were not vaccinated against anthracnose. When buffalo and cows died, people did not report to the authorities and local veterinary services, they were slaughtered at random and meat was eaten, leading to the transmission of disease in a total of 17 people.
The epidemic is now under control and no more infected animals or humans have been detected.
Rabies disease is complicated
However, rabies is a major problem in the first half of 2023. According to a Health Ministry report, there have been 41 deaths from rabies in the country year-to-date, an increase of 16 deaths compared to the same period in 2022.
Meanwhile, the number of vaccinated dogs and cats only reached 3.3 million, accounting for 44% of the total flock of 7 million in the country.
In many places, particularly in some western provinces, vaccination rates are below 10%. There are 13 places with low vaccination rates below 25%.
Reporting on the zoonotic disease testing situation, Mr. Ngo Van Bac, director of the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center, said the rabies positive rate was 50% higher than last year in the number of samples tested at the center.
Meanwhile, anthracnose disease has broken out in the frontier provinces this year, and special attention should be paid to environmental work because the pathogen can remain in the soil for up to 30 years.
Heads of the Ministry of Animal Health said that for these two diseases it is necessary to carry out good vaccination and propaganda to fight the disease. For bird flu, only 5 samples tested positive, showing the vaccine is effective.
In view of the above epidemic situation, the Ministry of Animal Health stated that funds are needed for the prevention, control and surveillance of new diseases entering Vietnam and the modification of old pathogens.
In the first six months of the year, other common diseases in livestock and poultry were identified and well controlled, preventing major epidemics. There are currently effective vaccines to prevent these diseases; Many vaccines are manufactured in the country.
In order to strengthen terrestrial epidemic prevention and control, the Ministry of Animal Health has recommended directing, guiding, monitoring and urging communities to report animal diseases through the Online Animal Disease Information System (VAHIS system). This ensures fast, accurate and continuous reporting and saves 95% of the time compared to before.
It is currently being expanded and focused on completing other components integrated into the VAHIS system, such as managing information on other animal diseases, which is necessary for reporting epidemics.
Overall management of dogs and cats, vaccination records, rabies disease management, active surveillance data management of avian influenza, African swine fever, foot and mouth disease, facilities management, animal disease-free zones; Management of emerging diseases in wildlife.
In the first 6 months of 2023, the veterinary industry was able to effectively combat the disease in livestock and poultry. Picture: Linh Linh.
As for diseases on aquatic products, the total damaged brackish shrimp farming area was 17,927 ha in the first six months of 2023 (equivalent to 87% of the total damaged aquaculture area), an increase of 7% compared to the same period in 2022.
Explaining this situation, Mr. Tien Ngoc Tien, director of Animal Health Subdivision of Region VII, said that the brackish water shrimp farming area has been damaged by weather changes and the salinity in some estuaries is not enough for shrimp farming, causing the stocking situation in the first months of the year to be slower than in 2022.
In addition, shrimp prices remained low in the early months of 2023, resulting in shrimp farms and operations failing to maximize capacity and failing to invest in high-quality seeds, resulting in brackish water shrimp farming areas.
Do not rely on administrative “ways” in veterinary work.
Minister Le Minh Hoan assessed that the Ministry of Animal Health has successfully completed sector work in the past period under the close guidance of the heads of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, directly Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien.
Given that nature, animals and plants play an important role in sustaining life and human life, the minister suggested that the veterinary sector should consider animal welfare and the one-health approach in the relationship between humans, animals and the environment.
“The mission of the veterinary industry is not only to protect the health of livestock and poultry for economic development and export. But think about the question: What needs to be done so that 100 million people don’t suffer first from health and then from mental health because of food insecurity? Although this story is difficult, it must be worked through to the end,” Minister Le Minh Hoan particularly emphasized.
The commander of the agricultural sector said that the communication of the veterinary industry is also a matter of change, one must not be “hostage” to the cables issued, but must find a structural solution to manage 10 million livestock farms.
In addition to organizing technical and professional seminars, there should be seminars where solutions are found to bring regulations and standards closer to people and reach the right audience, especially with the support of information technology and multimedia like today.
How to bring the enthusiasm and initiatives of the veterinary industry to the people and help to substantially change societal perceptions in line with a stable and sustainable management structure.
Hearing the Minister’s opinion, Nguyen Van Long, Director of the Ministry of Animal Health, stated that the veterinary industry has and will gradually change its mindset and approach to analyze current difficulties and propose appropriate scientific and systematic solutions.
Apply legal documents in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine effectively and flexibly. From there, encourage people’s understanding of the veterinary industry and volunteer with them to ensure the health of themselves, their families and the community of 100 million people in Vietnam.
Regarding the tasks of the last 6 months of 2023, the director of the Ministry of Animal Health, Nguyen Van Long, stressed that he would continue to monitor the epidemic situation on the ground, especially with regard to dangerous diseases such as avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, African swine fever, rash, anthracnose and especially rabies…
Building disease-free chains and zones for livestock, poultry and aquatic products, strengthening the quarantine of imported livestock and poultry meat products for food in provinces and cities.
In 2023, introduce food safety monitoring programs, encourage trade and especially support companies looking to export animals and animal products to foreign markets.