Blue ear disease hits 11 provinces in Vietnam

Last updated: 7/31/2010 13:10

As of Friday (July 30), blue ear disease has affected pigs in 11 provinces across the country, the Department of Animal Health reported.

The southern provinces of Tien Giang and Soc Trang were the hardest hit, according to the department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Other problem areas include the central provinces of Nghe An and Quang Tri, the Mekong Delta province Bac Lieu, and the northern province of Cao Bang, the department said. However, it didn’t elaborate on the total number of affected pigs.

The epidemic disease, known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, is likely to spread further, Van Dang Ky, head of the department's office warned.

Ky listed a number of reasons that could have led to the outbreak, including local people and officials’ negligence regarding preventive measures as well as their lack of necessary education.

In June 2009, the department said that Vietnam had successfully curbed the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, bird flu and blue ear disease. On April 3, however, blue ear cropped up again in the northern province of Hai Duong

Source: Tuoi Tre