Photo for illustration. Animal Health officers take testing samples from ill pigs. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Binh

This latest outbreak leaves only five provinces nationwide that have not been hit by the virus. They are Ben Tre, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Ba Ria Vung Tau and Tay Ninh.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, more than 2.6 million of pigs have been culled nationwide in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

As of June 11, African swine fever had occurred in 55 of the country’s 63 cities and provinces, including all the major cities.

The total population of pigs in Vietnam this month was down 5.5 per cent from the same period last year. Pork production in the first half of this year was about two million tonnes, 5 per cent lower than in the first half of last year.

As soon as African swine fever was reported in China on August 23 last year, Vietnam took preventative measures along the border; however, the first outbreak was detected in the northern province of Hung Yen in early February.

African swine fever does not spread to humans or poultry, but it can kill pigs quickly and there is no vaccine available.

VNS