Foot-and-mouth disease hits two more Vietnamese localities

Foot-and-mouth disease has stricken two more localities of Vietnam, raising the number of its affected cities and provinces to 36, according to a local animal health agency on Wednesday.

The latest cases were found in northern Hai Phong city and northern Ha Nam province several days go, said the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

As of Tuesday, 12 out of 36 affected localities, including eight northern provinces of Cao Bang, Bac Can, Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Hai Duong and Lai Chau; two central localities, namely Nghe An province and Da Nang city; and two central highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Lam Dong, had declared foot-and-mouth outbreaks in their territories.

Vietnam is intensifying control over cattle transport and trade in affected areas, surveillance of the disease and vaccination of healthy animals. It is expected to import some 11 million doses of vaccines from mid-June to September to serve prevention work nationwide.

The disease has jumped to 420 communes in 36 cities and provinces nationwide, hitting nearly 17,100 bulls and buffaloes, and some 18,400 pigs, the department said, noting that nearly 12, 000 pigs, and some 240 buffalos and bulls have either died or been culled due to the outbreak.

Source: Xinhua