The central province of Ha Tinh has not met a 21-day deadline required to rid itself of the foot-and-mouth disease.
The disease, which broke out in Cam Minh commune, Cam Xuyen district, on December 20, 2008, afflicted 12 cows and later tests showed that the cows had contracted the foot-and-mouth type A virus, a new strain found in the province.
The provincial Veterinary Department quickly culled the diseased animals and implemented measures to contain the outbreak such as isolating the affected area, spraying preventive chemicals and scattering powdered lime.
The new outbreak of the disease was caused by local people’s failure to comply with rules on epidemic prevention, said Pham Thanh Binh, Head of the provincial Veterinary Department. They still let animals wander freely and secretively purchase buffalos and cows from neighbouring provinces such as Nghe An and Quang Binh, he said.