Pig carcasses dumped into canal in north-central Vietnam
Sunday, October 29, 2023, 13:14 GMT+7
Dozens of pig carcasses have been discarded into a canal in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam, emitting a foul odor, despite the ongoing African swine fever epidemic there.
Local residents passing through the Dao Canal in Yen Thanh District, Nghe An have recently voiced their concern over the issue.
Water from the canal is used for agricultural activities in Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, and Quynh Luu Districts but the pig carcasses have polluted the waterway.
Meanwhile, the African swine fever epidemic is spreading across Yen Thanh District, causing pigs there to die en masse.
|
|
| A pig carcass gets stuck in a sewer. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre |
“Dead pigs have drifted [on the canal], together with garbage. We are worried that the water may be polluted and African swine fever may spread faster," said Phan Van Trung, a 46-year-old resident living near the Dao Canal.
Many residents have dumped animal corpses, especially dead hogs suspected of being infected with African swine fever, into the canal, according to North Nghe An Irrigation Co. Ltd..
The company has detached a force to coordinate with districts to call on locals not to repeat the act and collect and bury pig carcasses but the issue remains in place.
|
|
| A pig corpse is seen on the Dao Canal, causing environmental pollution and a foul odor. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre |
Yen Thanh District currently has over 82,000 hogs. African swine fever has spread to 11 communes and towns in the district with over 500 pigs infected with the disease, said Nguyen Trong Huong, director of the district’s agricultural service center.
Local authorities have reviewed and destroyed these swine and disinfected the disease-hit areas.
African swine fever has also spread to Dien Chau and Quynh Hop Districts in Nghe An Province.
|
|
| Two veterinarians inject a pig with the African swine fever vaccine. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre |
Nghe An Province has detected 64 African swine fever clusters in the January-September period this year, according to the provincial animal husbandry and veterinary sub-department.
Dang Van Minh, head of the sub-department, attributed the rapid transmission of the epidemic in the province to the poor management of pigs and pork and the large proportion of small pig farms, at 88.8 percent.
The provincial administration has issued an urgent dispatch asking districts to mobilize resources to prevent and control the epidemic and curb new outbreaks, while imposing heavy sanctions on those failing to report such outbreaks.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
