Foot and Mouth Disease Hits Vietnam
February 9, 2004
HANOI - Nearly 2,000 buffalos, cows and pigs have been infected with foot and mouth disease in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.
“Foot and mouth disease has been reported in six districts, including Hoi An town, and local authorities have begun culling the infected animals,” Bui Quang Anh, head of the ministry’s animal health department, told AFP.
So far 84 pigs have been slaughtered in a bid to contain the highly contagious disease, which first emerged in the province in December last year, according to state media.
Local authorities have imposed a ban on the trade, transport and slaughter of buffalos, cows and pigs in the affected areas and will spend one billion dong (64,000 dollars) on vaccinating livestock in the province.
State media said Sunday that the neighbouring province of Quang Ngai was also tackling an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
However, Quang Ngai authorities refused to comment Monday, while the agriculture ministry’s Anh said he was unable to confirm the information.
The news is another blow for the communist nation’s farming industry as it struggles to contain outbreaks of bird flu that have infected 57 of 64 provinces and killed 13 people.
Foot and mouth disease affects all species of cloven-hoofed animals and can devastate livestock. Financial losses as a result of the disease can be significant both in direct losses due to deaths in young animals, loss of milk, loss of meat and a decrease in productive performance, experts say.
The costs associated with eradication or control can be high and affected areas are often subject to trade restrictions.
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