Dak Lak Province Battles African Swine Fever and Rabies Outbreaks

ASF Virus Variants Bypass Current Vaccines in Dak Lak

African Swine Fever has infected 113 households across 30 communes and wards in Dak Lak province as of June 30. The outbreak has hit contracted farming facilities hardest, forcing authorities to cull more than 8,500 pigs, totaling over 447 tons of livestock. According to local authorities, the disease is now considered endemic in the region.

Epidemiological surveillance has identified a severe threat: 83.6% of positive samples contain variants of ASF virus genotypes 1 and 2. The risk of recurrence remains high, particularly in Krong Nang and Hoa Phu, where 21 days have not yet passed since the last recorded outbreaks.

Low Vaccination Rates Drive Rabies Risk

The province is also struggling to contain rabies, which has appeared in 11 cases across 8 households, leading to the culling of 24 dogs and cats. Dak Lak is currently listed among 12 provinces and cities with a high risk of rabies transmission to both animals and humans.

A critical gap in prevention exists: the current rabies vaccination rate in the region is just 28.3%. This figure falls far below the threshold required for effective disease control. Local authorities have identified the spread of the rabies pathogen among stray dogs in rural areas as a primary driver of the risk to the human population.

Biosecurity Gaps and the Threat of SAT1

While Foot-and-Mouth Disease and 혹진균증 remain relatively stable, officials warn of a high risk of introduction for the SAT1 strain of FMD, which has been reported in China. According to provincial reports, the prevalence of small-scale household farming with inadequate biosecurity measures makes food safety and quality management difficult.

The situation is compounded by several systemic failures:

• Under-reporting: Some regions are failing to report livestock disease outbreaks or are actively concealing information.
• Waste Management: There is a significant lack of circular economy infrastructure for treating livestock waste and odors.
• Environmental Stress: Extreme weather conditions are weakening animal immunity, making them more susceptible to pathogens.

Provincial Mandate for 80% Vaccination Coverage

Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee, has ordered all local governments to intensify livestock disease prevention. The provincial government has set a mandatory target of 80% vaccination coverage to halt the spread of these diseases.

The province will also integrate the VAHIS system to use information technology for real-time disease monitoring, early detection, and the issuance of timely warnings. Current directives include stricter management of slaughterhouse operations and enhanced reporting of livestock movements.