African swine fever (ASF) is spreading rapidly across Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, with new outbreaks reported continuously.
To contain the virus, reduce economic losses, and ensure food safety ahead of the year-end holidays, livestock authorities are working closely with local governments and farming households. The goal is to implement strong, coordinated, and comprehensive control measures.
In Vinh Long Province’s Vinh Kim Commune, Nguyen Van Lam raises nearly 100 pigs. Each morning, he spreads lime powder around the barns before mixing disinfectants to spray every corner of his farm.
He said his family disinfects the farm daily to safeguard their herd from infection.
“With ASF spreading across numerous regions, I must exercise caution with every detail. All my savings from last year are invested in the pigs I intend to sell for Tet. If I am negligent and the pigs die, I not only forfeit all my labor but could also potentially lose billions of Vietnamese dong,” he told local media.
In Tay Ninh province’s Binh Duc Commune, Nguyen Thi Huyen Thanh lost over 70 pigs to ASF, leading to significant financial losses. Despite the setback, she continues working with veterinary officers to isolate the outbreak and disinfect her barns.
“When the disease first appeared, only about 10 pigs showed symptoms while the rest were still eating normally. Some neighbors advised me to butcher them quickly to cut losses. But to protect food safety and prevent the disease from spreading, my family immediately notified veterinary authorities,” she said.
Checkpoints and border patrols intensify
Across the Mekong Delta, thousands of pig-raising households, together with provincial veterinary forces, are implementing strict measures to stop the outbreak, especially in the final months of the year.
In Vinh Long province, authorities have established 20 animal-health checkpoints on major highways leading into gateway communes such as Cau Ngang, Nhi Truong, Vinh Kim, and Long Hiep.
At the Long Hiep checkpoint, Deputy Director Le Van Dong of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment confirmed that checkpoints operate round-the-clock. Trucks carrying live pigs or pork products must present release permits, health certificates, and other required documents.
“These control measures will remain strict before, during, and after Lunar New Year 2026. Any individual or team that relaxes checkpoint controls and causes new outbreaks or spread will be disciplined,” he warned.
In An Giang province, Thai Hoang Nam, Deputy Head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sub-Department, said his unit is distributing disinfectants to farmers and market managers to sanitize barns and trading areas.
At Vam Cong ferry connecting Dong Thap and An Giang, a checkpoint is inspecting pig shipments, verifying origins, and penalizing violations.
Border patrols have also intensified. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tan Duong, Chief of the Ha Tien International Border Guard Station, said his team is monitoring trails, river mouths, and crossings to prevent smuggling of pigs or infected meat into Vietnam.
Long-term solutions and farmer awareness
Despite efforts, Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment in Tay Ninh province, said some households still lack disease-prevention awareness. Some hide outbreaks, fail to report cases, or refuse to cooperate with authorities.
To address this, the province’s livestock authorities are working with commune governments and related agencies to improve communication. They aim to help farmers understand the consequences of ASF and encourage full cooperation. Stronger penalties are being considered for those who conceal outbreaks.
Beyond immediate solutions like early detection, quarantine, and destruction of infected pigs, livestock agencies are guiding farmers toward safer production models.
The focus is on moving away from small-scale, fragmented farms and adopting larger, closed-loop farm models that meet biosecurity standards.
High-tech solutions are also gaining ground. Controlled-environment barns, automated feeding, and herd-management systems are being promoted to reduce disease risks and improve long-term sustainability.
ASF outbreaks have surged across the Mekong Delta in recent months. In Tay Ninh alone, October 2025 saw seven outbreaks across six communes and wards, with over 150 pigs destroyed, totaling 9.6 tons. In Vinh Long, four communes have declared outbreaks, while two others remain high-risk areas.