Three clusters of African swine fever (ASF) have recently been recorded in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Phuoc after the disease had not been documented in the locality for over a year.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed on Saturday it had detected ASF outbreaks in Chon Thanh District, Phuoc Long Town, and Binh Long Town.

The most recent cluster was discovered among a herd of 75 pigs belonging to Phan Van Dat in Minh Thanh Commune, Chon Thanh District.

Dat previously reported to local authorities when 15 of his pigs died after having such symptoms as anorexia, high fever, and skin hemorrhage.

Samples were collected from the hogs and sent to Regional Animal Health Office No. 6, and the results later came back positive for ASF.

Dat stated he had bought 50 pigs, each weighing 40 kilograms, from Phu Giao District in the southern province of Binh Duong on October 24.

Many of these pigs began exhibiting symptoms a day later.

Authorities have culled the infected and dead pigs, as well as quarantining and monitoring the conditions of other healthy pigs.

They also disinfected the area and implemented prevention measures at other pig farms in the district.

Minh Thanh Commune has declared an ASF epidemic so that strict prevention and control regulations can be enforced.

The other two clusters were documented in Phuoc Long and Binh Long Towns in late October and early November.

The clusters have been put under control and are under 21-day supervision.

The ASF epidemic peaked in Binh Phuoc Province in mid-2019, killing 21,500 pigs.

Provincial authorities decided to earmark VND48 billion (US$2 million) for supporting affected farmers and carrying out prevention and controls measures.

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