According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, African swine fever has spread rapidly across all 34 provinces and cities this year, with a total of 1,780 outbreaks. As a result, 648,000 pigs have been culled.
The Department of Animal Health stated that the outbreaks are primarily concentrated in small-scale farms and households where biosecurity measures are inadequate. Disinfection, isolation, and control of personnel and vehicle access to farms remain limited. The changing weather, with increased rainfall and humidity, reduces the effectiveness of disinfection efforts, creating a favorable environment for the virus to persist and spread. Authorities have also identified a new, more virulent strain of the virus, making the outbreak harder to control.
Despite the widespread outbreaks, Vietnam's total pig population at the end of August saw a 0.5% increase compared to the same period last year. However, consumer concerns about the disease have dampened demand and driven down pork prices.
In the north, pork prices fell by over 7,000 dong, to between 53,000 and 56,000 dong per kg. In the central and central highlands regions, prices dropped by about 6,600 dong, ranging between 51,000 and 56,000 dong. Similarly, pork prices in the south decreased by nearly 4,000 dong to 56,000-58,000 dong per kg.
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Pigs infected with African swine fever in Gia Lai. Photo: Nguyen Chon |
Pigs infected with African swine fever in Gia Lai. Photo: Nguyen Chon
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to intensify disease surveillance and gene sequencing for early detection of virus variants. The Ministry will also guide and support localities and businesses in establishing disease-free zones according to Vietnamese and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards to maintain stable production.
In contrast to pork, poultry prices rose across the board in August. The price of colored-feather chickens in the north increased by nearly 8,000 dong to 61,000 dong per kg. In central Vietnam, prices rose by over 7,000 dong to 60,500 dong, while prices in the south saw a slight increase to 61,000 dong.
Industrial chicken prices also increased by 1,000-10,000 dong in all three regions, fluctuating between 33,000 and 34,000 dong per kg. Poultry consumption has surged as consumers switch from pork to chicken due to concerns about the swine fever outbreak.
Thi Ha
