Foot-and-mouth outbreak hits Vietnam’s central highlands

HANOI: An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among pigs has recently been detected in Vietnam’s central highlands Lam Dong province, according to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

FMD has hit more than 800 pigs in the three districts of Duc Trong, Lam Ha and Da Teh.

Local relevant agencies have culled affected pigs, sprayed disinfectants at their breeding grounds, kept close surveillance on pig transport and instructed breeders to vaccinate pigs against diseases, the department said yesterday.

Earlier, FMD outbreaks were reported in the capital city of Hanoi, the four northern provinces of Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai and Ha Nam, and the central province of Ha Tinh, according to the Department of Animal Health under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The disease affected nearly 2,400 pigs in the six localities.

Vietnam, which had 8.7 million doses of vaccine against FMD by the end of last year, plans to import 3.5 million doses of the vaccine in the first quarter of this year, said the Department of Animal Health.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of many wild and domestic cloven-footed mammals. In pigs, it is characterised by vesicles on the feet, snout and in the mouth.