VIENTIANE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has ordered urgent nationwide measures to contain an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), including a strict ban on the movement of pigs and pork between provinces and districts and a prohibition on imports from abroad.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been instructed to coordinate with affected provinces and relevant agencies to strengthen disease surveillance and control, assess losses, support affected farmers, and seek assistance from the World Organisation for Animal Health for funding, equipment, disinfectants and veterinary supplies.
Authorities have also been tasked with considering an emergency reserve fund for animal disease outbreaks. The measures come as ASF continues to spread in several parts of the country.
African Swine Fever, a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boars, can not be passed from animals to humans, but people can spread the disease. ■