As the agenda for the three-day workshop says, veterinary experts of the two sides share their experience in and discuss measures to struggle against the ongoing African swine fever (ASF) epidemic. Discussions about the US agriculture sector’s experience in preventing and controlling animal diseases are considered very helpful and useful for Vietnamese peers.

Addressing the workshop’s opening ceremony, Pham Van Dong, director of the Department of Animal Health, said the US has been one of the leading countries that have actively supported Vietnam in its fight against the ASF epidemic. Particularly, the US side has sent inspection teams to localities to evaluate the risk and suggest measures to stop the disease from spreading.

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The US and Vietnam share experience in fighting the African swine fever epidemic (Photo: VOV)

The US side has also offered Vietnam essential laboratory equipment to diagnose, assess, and find solutions to prevent the spread of disease.

Speaking at the first session of the first day of the workshop, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, the US Ambassador to Vietnam, noted that both countries enjoy close relations in multiple fields, including in agriculture. The US is also proud to have a track record of controlling animal diseases effectively.

The US has not yet seen any outbreaks of ASF, and the experience of American experts would hopefully help Vietnam combat the epidemic, he said.

According to reports released by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the ASF was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019, it has spread to over 7,600 communes of all 63 provinces and cities.

As a result of the epidemic, the total number of culled pigs has reached five million, accounting for 7 per cent of the country's total pig flocks. At present, there are still 4,500 communes that have suffered ASF outbreaks and have yet to pass 30 days of no fresh cases occurring.

Reported by Hoang Linh