Operating under the principles of prioritizing prevention, early detection, rapid handling, and timely zoning, Búng Lao commune has tightened disease control solutions to protect livestock herds and minimize economic losses for farmers in the final months of the year.

The commune’s total pig herd currently stands at 3,512 head, serving as an important source of income for many households, particularly small-scale farmers. Therefore, as ASF broke out across several localities within the province, disease prevention and control were identified by the commune as an urgent task requiring close coordination between authorities and the public.

On May 22, 2026, immediately upon receiving reports of pig deaths in the household of Lò Văn Thành in Pá Tra village, veterinary cadres and commune authorities urgently took test samples. Results confirmed that the pigs tested positive for the ASF virus. Lò Văn Thành’s family received instructions on handling the outbreak according to regulations, while surrounding farming households were placed under close monitoring. However, due to small-scale farming interspersed within residential areas, infections still spread to several households.

As of July 21, the entire commune recorded disease outbreaks across 19 farming households with 110 infected pigs, leading to the culling of 93 head with a total weight of 3,805 kilograms. The two villages of Pá Tra and Co Có were the most severely affected, recording 107 diseased pigs across 16 households and 88 head culled. Remaining cases appeared sporadically in Bua, Vánh 2, and Cộng villages.

Most farming households in Búng Lao practice small-scale husbandry, utilizing barns within family compounds. Several households with larger herd sizes are concentrated in lowland villages. This farming format makes disease containment challenging because sanitation and biosecurity conditions vary considerably among households.

Among households suffering losses in the recent outbreak in Pá Tra village, the family of Lường Văn Toán had 20 diseased pigs, while Cà Văn Vui had to cull 9 out of his total herd of 10 pigs.

Cà Văn Vui shared that his family has raised pigs for many years, maintaining a herd of 10 pigs this year for household economic development. Detecting abnormal symptoms in several pigs, he immediately notified commune veterinary cadres and isolated the herd. The breeding sow was penned separately and quickly transferred to another location to minimize infection risks. Nevertheless, most of the herd could not escape culling, causing economic damage.

To ensure unified direction in disease prevention and control, Búng Lao commune established a Steering Committee on ASF Prevention and Control and a Remediation Team for ASF in 2026. Right after the outbreak emerged, the commune People’s Committee directed village heads and veterinary cadres to coordinate in inspecting and monitoring affected households, guiding disinfection, environmental treatment, and transport and trade control to mitigate pathogen transmission. Environmental disinfection and cleaning were deployed synchronously across the commune, linked with the provincial Sanitation and Disinfection Month. From June 4, the commune organized chemical spraying across livestock barns in all 39 out of 39 villages, using a total of 325 liters of chemicals.

Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà, a public employee in charge of veterinary affairs at the Búng Lao commune General Service Center, stated that upon discovering a household with infected pigs, veterinary cadres visit directly to guide proper protocols. From digging burial pits, scattering lime powder, and spraying disinfectant chemicals to cleaning barns and isolating healthy herds from suspected cases, instructions are carried out concretely. Farmers are strongly advised never to sell off sick pigs, but to report immediately to authorities or veterinary cadres for timely intervention.

For villages free of disease, outreach is stepped up to raise preventive awareness. Technical cadres recommend that household members wash and disinfect their hands and feet before entering barns after returning from markets or outside environments, restrict visitors from entering livestock areas, and regularly sanitize and spray disinfectants. Households that experienced infections must leave barns vacant for approximately three months or switch to raising other livestock before restocking to ensure safety.

Beyond direct grassroots outreach, Búng Lao commune utilizes digital platforms effectively for communication. Via Zalo groups of the commune and villages, authorities regularly send notices and recommendations urging residents to strictly comply with epidemic prevention measures.

From July 21 to date, no new ASF cases have been detected in Búng Lao commune. Although the disease is fundamentally controlled, risks remain latent as pathogens can survive long in the environment and through livestock trading and transportation. Therefore, alongside decisive governmental action, proactive disease prevention awareness among farming households remains the decisive factor. When every citizen strictly follows biosecurity farming practices, reports cases promptly, and avoids complacency, livestock herds will be protected and economic losses minimized.