The number of pigs infected, dead, and requiring disposal has steadily increased, yet disease prevention and control at the grassroots level remains challenging and less effective than expected. By August 1, ASF had affected more than 619 households across 136 hamlets and villages in 19 communes and wards. The province had disposed of 2,946 diseased pigs, amounting to 133,510 kilograms, 3.9 times higher than the same period in 2024.

Facing the increasingly complex outbreak, provincial authorities and the Department of Agriculture and Environment have issued various directives and guidelines to support localities in implementing disease control, containment, and risk mitigation. However, real-world efforts have shown several inadequacies. In many affected areas, the absence of interdisciplinary inspection teams and disease control checkpoints has hindered oversight of pig transportation and the movement of pork products. Public communication and guidance for farming households have not been truly effective. Some farmers, due to carelessness or resignation, fail to report outbreaks, conceal infections, and dispose of dead pigs improperly, thereby increasing the risk of disease transmission and making it more difficult to manage.

At the commune level, newly reorganized local governments are still facing significant challenges in implementing and coordinating response tasks. In addition, certain technical agencies are operating without clear legal frameworks, which hinders the effective enforcement of disease control measures. Since July 1, ASF has appeared in 84 households across 29 out of 73 villages in Thanh Nưa Commune, with 144 pigs culled, totaling more than 13.6 tons in weight. In response, the Thanh Nưa commune People’s Committee formed five rapid response teams to monitor and guide locals, oversee disposal procedures, and support farmers in submitting the required paperwork for state compensation. Despite these efforts, prevention remains difficult.

According to Mr. Chu Văn Bách, Chairman of the Thanh Nưa commune People’s Committee, the lack of a clear coordination mechanism with technical agencies has made it difficult to assign responsibilities in handling outbreaks. Furthermore, the commune has not received funds for disease prevention and has had to cover all related activities, from disposal to disinfection and frontline staff support, on its own. Meanwhile, some households remain negligent and irresponsible, with instances of dead pig carcasses being dumped into the environment. This careless practice is one of the direct causes of the rapid spread of ASF.

Even though ASF has been officially declared in only two of the twenty villages in Sam Mứn commune, local authorities have recorded several cases of residents discarding dead pigs in the communal garbage site near Pắc Nậm Bridge rather than disposing of them as required. This behavior poses a serious threat of widespread contagion. To address this, local officials have organized community meetings to raise awareness and encourage proper waste disposal.

According to Ms. Nguyễn Thị Huyền, Vice Chairwoman of the Sam Mứn commune People’s Committee, despite efforts to educate residents at the village level, violations continue. On July 20, the commune installed surveillance cameras at the waste collection site and tasked the commune police with increasing inspections and penalties for offenders. Since installing the monitoring system, two violators have been summoned and warned. In the future, the commune will continue to intensify supervision and strictly handle any misconduct to prevent further outbreaks.

One of the most critical measures in ASF prevention is to monitor slaughter activities and prevent the sale and distribution of infected pigs. However, for over a month now, this activity has been disrupted. This disruption poses a major risk, as sick pigs or contaminated meat could reach the market and spread the disease further. Ms. Quàng Thị Hoa, an officer from the Regional Agricultural Service Center No.2, noted that in the past, veterinary staff from the former Điện Biên District regularly monitored slaughterhouses, only allowing healthy pigs to be marked and sold. But since the reorganization and establishment of a new administrative system, these inspections have been temporarily suspended.

Reports from the Regional Agricultural Service Center No.2 show that there are currently 28 slaughterhouses operating in 12 communes in the region, each processing one to two pigs per day on average. Mr. Phạm Quang Thành, Acting Director of the center, acknowledged that this is a widespread issue among regional centers in the province. As these newly formed units are still in the process of completing legal documentation, such as seals and invoices, they are not yet qualified to resume local slaughterhouse inspections. In addition, monitoring the transportation of pigs and related products remains problematic. According to Mr. Thành, effective oversight requires close coordination between veterinary services, police, market management, and local authorities, but the current mechanisms for collaboration remain vague and underdeveloped.

As pig farmers begin to restock and expand production in preparation for the end-of-year market, the continued threat of ASF makes it more urgent than ever to implement disease prevention measures in a comprehensive and effective way. Local governments and specialized agencies must take stronger, more decisive actions, improving coordination in zoning outbreak areas, responding to infections, and strictly monitoring transportation, slaughter, and pork distribution. Only through strong control measures can pig herds be protected, farmer losses minimized, and a stable supply of pork ensured for the year-end season.