Experts said on Tuesday during a conference that Vietnam is under risk of an African Swine Flu outbreak. The country prompt careful monitoring of pig farms for any signs of infection and takes measures to prevent smuggled untested pork.
According to Dr. Mateo del Pozo of Spain's National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, African Swine Flu or ASF is an infectious hemorrhagic fever that had a 90 to 100 percent mortality rate for pigs and there is no cure or vaccine for this.
While the disease is not harmful to humans, it can cause a great economic loss for farmers and harm trading for pork.
The World Organization for Animal Health stated that from the end of 2017 to September 10, 2018, 17 countries in Europe and Asia, such as Estonia and China, have had ASF outbreaks with over 560,000 pigs being culled.
From August to September 10, China reported 14 outbreaks and culled 38,000 pigs. The disease is reportedly moving southward towards provinces near Vietnam.
ASF spread from pig to pig through animal feed contamination with a pathogen, direct contact between pigs and carriers such as ticks.
After four to 19 days, symptoms start to show including loss of appetite, high fever, and hemorrhage. Sometimes, pigs can die even before these signs appear.
"Farmers and consumers should be aware of the danger of the virus. Farmers should follow biosafety regulations and avoid smuggling pigs, while travelers should only buy pork products that are properly tested," Dam Xuan Thanh of the Department of Animal Health said.
If there are signs of ASF, people should notify health authorities so they can quarantine pigs and ban the transport of the pork. Moreover, farmers with culled pigs will be supported financially.
