Mr. Tran Hung, Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Ha Tinh, advised: Consumers should not be too worried about African swine fever, because the disease does not spread to humans and outbreaks are detected and handled promptly.

Pork purchasing power at traditional markets in Ha Tinh is decreasing quite sharply.

Although African swine fever does not cause disease in humans, many housewives are afraid, so pork consumption at traditional markets in Ha Tinh has decreased. At Hoi market (Cam Xuyen town), these days, pork purchasing power has decreased quite sharply because African swine fever is occurring in some communes such as Cam Duong, Nam Phuc Thang...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien - a trader at Hoi market shared: “Before the ASF outbreak, I sold an average of more than 100 kg of pork per day (equivalent to 2 pigs). However, during this time, I only sold about 1 pig per day. Although the pigs I imported had a clear origin and had a slaughter control stamp, due to fear of the epidemic, the number of people buying pork decreased sharply. Not only my stall but most of the meat stalls in the market are in this situation.”

Ms. Hoang Thi Hoa, a housewife in Cam Xuyen town, said: “Because ASF has appeared in some localities in the district, I am quite worried when choosing pork for family meals. Although we know that this disease does not affect human health, we still buy less pork.”

The amount of pork Ms. Duong Thi Lai sold decreased significantly compared to before the outbreak of ASF.

The sharp decline in pork purchasing power is a common situation in most traditional markets in Ha Tinh. Due to concerns about the development of ASF, consumers tend to switch to other types of food.

Ms. Duong Thi Lai - a pork trader at Ha Tinh City Market said: "When information about ASF appeared in many localities in the province, people when buying pork often asked carefully about the origin of the pig, many people carefully looked at the quarantine stamp; observed the meat more carefully before buying. At this time, on average, each day, I sell at the market and import to familiar places about 60 kg of meat/day, instead of 100 kg as before".

According to Ms. Lai, although ASF is breaking out, meat prices remain stable and have not decreased, fluctuating from 90 - 110 thousand VND/kg, depending on the type.

Pork in supermarkets is the preferred choice of people.

In contrast to the slowdown of pork stalls at traditional markets, pork consumption in supermarkets remains stable.

Compared to the price at traditional markets, the price of pork at supermarkets is 20,000 - 40,000 VND/kg higher. "Since Ha Tinh announced ASF, my family has switched to buying pork at supermarkets, although the meat products here are not as diverse as at the market" - Ms. Ho Thi Nga (Ha Huy Tap ward, Ha Tinh city) shared.

Leaders of the Veterinary Department of Region III inspected the work of preventing and controlling ASF in Cam Xuyen.

Mr. Tran Hung, Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ha Tinh) advised: "ASF is a dangerous and highly fatal disease in pigs. However, consumers should not be too worried about the disease, because it does not spread to humans; on the other hand, currently, localities and specialized sectors are focusing on good control, outbreaks are detected early and handled promptly.

To feel secure when using pork, people need to buy pork and pork products at reputable stalls. Pork must be controlled by veterinary agencies (with slaughter control stamp on the carcass); do not buy floating meat, meat without veterinary agency stamps and eat cooked food and drink boiled water. Absolutely do not use blood pudding.

According to Mr. Hung, in order to effectively prevent and control ASF, livestock farmers as well as traders at markets need to comply with regulations on disease prevention and control such as: not dumping dead pigs indiscriminately; not slaughtering or consuming infected pigs; pigs must be slaughtered at slaughterhouses that ensure veterinary hygiene conditions and are controlled by veterinary agencies...

Van Chung