Vietnam military to combat swine fever

HANOI: Vietnam said it will mobilise its military and police to combat the outbreak of African swine fever that has resulted in the culling of about four per cent of the country’s pig herd. The virus, first detected in February, has hit farms in 29 provinces, and prompted the authorities to cull more than 1.2 million pigs. “Soldiers and policemen will take part in efforts to make sure infected pigs are culled in a timely manner, keeping the outbreak from spreading further,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Phung Duc Tien said.