Foot-and-mouth disease is spreading in the two districts of Ky Anh and Thach Ha in the central province of Ha Tinh, said Pham Thanh Binh, head of the provincial Department of Animal Health.
Mr Binh reaffirmed that the outbreak is due to local people’s lack of vigilance regarding the vaccination of cattle. Veterinarians are being blamed for their poor management of the situation.
In a short time, nearly 90 buffaloes and cows belonging to 56 families have been infected with the disease. The infected livestock had not been vaccinated. When the disease occurred, veterinarians did not act promptly to prevent it from spreading while local authorities remained indifferent.
The provincial Department of Animal Health has provided 180 liters of chemical agent and sent officials to sterilise the infected districts and set up 6 checking points to prevent the transportation of cattle in and out of the infected areas. Local authorities have also purchased five tonnes of powdered lime to scatter around farms. The Department warned people not to let cattle wander and localise near the infected areas.