An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in Phong Dien District in the central province of Thua Thien Hue which neighbours Da Nang. It is the 19^th locality in Viet Nam to which the disease has spread and the first in the mid-central region.

A pig bathing point at the foot of Hai Van Pass in Thua Thien Hue Province is being monitored and disinfected strictly to prevent the ASF spread into in Da Nang

Although no case of ASF has been reported in Da Nang to date, the city is on high alert against this epidemic.

Focus is being on closely coordinating with the ASF-stricken Thua Thien Hue to prevent the spread of ASF into the city in the coming time.

Currently, a pig bathing point at the foot of Hai Van Pass, which is at the geographical boundary between

Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue, is being monitored and disinfected in a strict manner so as to prevent the ASF spread into in the city. 

The municipal authorities confirmed pork products on sale across the city are now totally safe for consumption.

Mr Nguyen Tu, the Deputy Head of the city's Food Safety Management Board affirmed, functional bodies have been making every effort to tighten their controls over pig farms, slaughtering facilities, markets, supermarkets, and trading areas of pigs and pork products.

Traders touting for business at all local markets now sell pork products which are sourced from locally licenced slaughtering facilities.

Recent surprise inspections showed all the city-based supermarkets have certificates of origin for their meat products on sale. Pork products totally meet the national food safety standards.

Many supermarkets across the city have also taken samples of pork randomly for testing of ASF virus affection, and the results show they are negative for this disease.

In suburban Hoa Vang District, many pig farms are taking proactive measures to contain ASF. Clean-ups and the spraying of disinfectant have been frequently carried out at these places. Livestock raisers have been advised by the local authorities not to use pig feed of unknown origin.

Locals are recommended not to buy meat of unclear origin and not being certified by the veterinary inspection agency at spontaneous pork selling areas on streets. Instead, they should buy pork at markets and supermarkets with food safety and hygiene certificates.

Viet Nam is the third country in Asia to be hit by the disease after China and Mongolia.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ASF has spread to 294 communes in 62 districts of 19 Vietnamese localities, and more than 34,700 pigs had been culled as part of measures to prevent further contagion.