FAO, OIE help Vietnam control African swine fever

(VOVWORLD) - The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have volunteered to help Vietnam deal with an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

The FAO is setting up a 500,000 USD emergency aid project for Vietnam. Pawin Padungtod, Senior Technical Coordinator of the FAO Emergency Center for Trans-boundary Animal Diseases, said the organization will provide technical assistance and work with agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This month, a delegation of experts will visit Vietnam to help curb the disease. Pawin Padungtod told VOV: "Apart from the results available already mentioned, if you also have available online resources which can be used as reference including guidelines for African swine fever diagnosis, guidelines for carcass disposal and situation there as well. I do believe that if we work together we can win this fight against ASF and keep the disease under control in Vietnam in the near future."  

Laure Weber-Vintzel, OIE Deputy Sub-Regional Representative, said the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has shared data among its members to help them respond to African swine fever outbreaks. The OIE is willing to give Vietnam technical support to fight the disease, she said.

"One of the important mandates of the OIE is to share the animal information in the world that mean every member country of the OIE should report the animal situation timely and with transparency. This is an obligation when you become an OIE member country. For the OIE, our role will be to help you to provide the information and then to spread the word on this information and also to analyze it. And I’ll show you an example of analysis on African swine fever," said Laure Weber-Vintzel.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong told VOV: "The FAO has proposed sending consultants to advise Vietnam on effectively dealing with African swine flu. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed the Department of Animal Health and other agencies to cooperate with the consultants."  

ASF has been reported in 20 countries since 2017.


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