Da Nang proposes mandatory vaccination against ASF

Mr Hung acknowledged the high risk of further outbreaks due to the large pig population and the dominance of small-scale farming, which accounts for about 80% of local pig production.

These scattered operations make disease control difficult, especially as many farmers neglect basic biosecurity measures.

Mr Hung said some localities lack veterinary staff, hampering outbreak response efforts. ASF first hit Da Nang in 2019 and has recurred annually since.

Although the ministry’s Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health has licensed vaccines for pigs over four weeks old, ASF has not yet been included in the list of diseases requiring mandatory vaccination.

“Prevention is better than cure. ASF returns every one to two years. We propose it be added to the list of dangerous animal diseases requiring mandatory vaccination,” Mr Hung stressed.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien said Vietnam currently has around 31 million pigs, with pork accounting for 65% of total meat value and a production volume of 8.2 million tons in 2024.

Pork remains a staple food and significantly influences the consumer price index and overall agricultural growth, he added.

He warned that without strict and timely control of the ongoing ASF wave, the consequences could be severe.

A previous outbreak once drove pork prices to USD 4 per kg and took two years to recover.