Vietnam facing worsening African swine fever outbreaks
The country has detected 972 African swine fever outbreaks so far this year, up from 514 reported in mid-July, the Tien Phong newspaper reported.
The number of pigs infected has risen to more than 100,000 from 30,000 over the same period, the paper said, citing Vietnam's agriculture ministry. The infected pigs have died or been culled.
"ASF has broken out on a very large scale, spreading across the country, seriously affecting the livestock industry, especially the supply of pork," Nguyen Xuan Duong, chairman of the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam, was quoted as saying. He added that no province is safe from the disease.
African swine fever has disrupted the global pork market for years. In the worst outbreak over 2018-19, about half the domestic pig population died in China, the world's biggest producer, causing losses estimated at over $100 billion.
The outbreaks in Vietnam last month prompted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to send an urgent directive to provinces and government agencies to deploy measures to curb the disease, which the government said was threatening to disrupt food supplies.
Though Vietnam was the first country reportedly to have developed an African swine fever vaccine that has been in commercial use since 2023, officials said the vaccination rate was low due to concerns about costs and efficiency.
"Vaccination is just a supporting tool that can not replace basic prevention measures," Duong said.
AVAC Vietnam JSC, the country's main African swine fever vaccine producer, didn't respond to Reuters' request for comment.
AVAC said in June it had sold 3 million vaccine doses in the domestic market and exported 600,000 doses to other countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
UK cases of mosquito-borne chikungunya virus more than double
There has been a significant increase in the number of UK cases of a mosquito-borne virus that can cause sudden fever and joint pain and is normally only found in Africa and southern UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says more than 70 cases of the chikungunya virus were reported in the first six months of this year, more than double than in the same period last year – all of them linked to while rarely fatal, can leave people experiencing joint pain for UKHSA is warning travellers to take precautions against mosquito bites. In most cases, people recover fully within a couple of weeks, but for some, pain can persist for months or even years. In very rare cases it can be fatal. While the 73 infections seen in the UK in the first six months of this year is not a huge number, it is more than double the 27 cases over the same period last year. An outbreak of the virus is under way in the Indian Ocean region, and almost all of the infections were linked to travel in India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Chikungunya is spread by two types of mosquito, neither of which are present in the UK, so there is no risk on onward infection. But Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, says it is a warning to travellers to make sure they take precautions against mosquito bites."Chikungunya can be a nasty disease and we're seeing a worrying increase in cases among travellers returning to the UK. "It is essential to take precautions against mosquito bites when travelling. "Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering up your skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets can greatly reduce the risk. "Before you travel, check the Travel Health Pro Website for the latest advice on your destination. "A chikungunya vaccine may also be considered for those travelling to higher-risk regions." The same report also says the first ever UK cases of Oropouche virus, normally only found in Central and South America and the Caribbean, have also been detected in travellers returning from Brazil. This virus is predominantly spread by midge bites rather than mosquitos, with the main type of midge involved in transmission not found in Europe or the include high fever, chills, headache, joint pain and muscle UKHSA warns of a rise in Oropouche virus infections globally since 2024, and says pregnant travellers should take particular care following some concerns about the impact the virus can cause during pregnancy.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hobby enjoyed by millions of young people linked to risk of serious mental illness, shocking new study reveals
A new study has revealed that binge gaming is directly linked to anxiety, depression and poor sleep in young people—with it being a particular problem in boys. Hong Kong researchers surveyed 2,592 of children and teens currently in school and found that 31 per cent of the youngsters had a binge gaming problem. The experts defined a binge gamer as someone who games on a console or PC for five or more hours consecutively. Specifically, 30 per cent revealed that they binge game at least once a month, with this being 14.3 per cent more prevalent in boys. In both genders, binge gamers experienced more instances of depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, poor sleep, and lessened confidence in their educational ability than non-gamers. They also reported higher rates of a troubling gaming addiction medically known as internet gaming disorder (IGD). The authors of the study said: 'Binge gaming may signify an initial phase in the progression of IDG and other severe social, physical and mental health issues.' However, they added other risk factors may lead to the development of the disorder like attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. In the UK, the latest government figures show 91 per cent of children and young people between three and 15 years old play video games. The gaming disorder has even been labeled as a health condition by the World Health Organization (WHO). In June, a study found that teens who spend more than two hours a day scrolling on phones or tablets doubled their risk of developing anxiety and quadrupled their chances of becoming depressed. Prolonged screen time, particularly passively scrolling or 'doomscrolling', led to heightened anxiety, depression, aggression and impulsiveness among adolescents who took part in a nine-month study. Neuroscientists said 45 per cent of the 12 to 17-year-olds they studied, who had no prior mental health conditions, experienced psychiatric symptoms that needed further medical evaluation. The research comes amid a growing mental health crisis in Britain's schools, with NHS data showing more than a fifth of eight to 16-year-olds had a probable mental health problem in 2023, a rise of 7 per cent since 2017. However, other studies have found that video gaming can have benefits—with one claiming it can be a better workout for the mind than physical exercise. Last year, researchers found gamers scored better on memory, attention and reasoning compared to those who did not play video games. Meanwhile moderate-level exercise of 150 minutes per week, in line with NHS guidelines, didn't boost memory and thinking skills, despite improving memory. Another study with 97,000 participants found the often misunderstood hobby, gaming, had a positive impact on their mental health. The Japanese researchers revealed owning a game console and playing games helped participants improve their wellbeing. However, participants who played video games for over three hours a day did not enjoy the same benefits, which suggests the problem may lie in binge gaming. But in one study, researchers found those who played video games for three or more benefits a day performed better in cognitive and memory tests.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Insomnia breakthrough as experts discover key 'driver' of the sleep problem that ruins millions of lives
Scientists have pinpointed why millions of people struggle to get a good night's sleep—and it's not lumpy pillows or a racing mind, the problem lies in their GUT. In a new study, published in medical journal General Psychiatry, researchers explored the link between nodding off and the presence of certain types of bacteria in the digestive system. Study lead Shangyun Shi, from Nanjing Medical University in China, concluded that there appears to be a direct link between gut bacteria and the risk of insomnia. Ms Shi used the data from 386,533 people with insomnia and compared it with data taken from two studies into microbiomes—totalling 26,548 people—who had 71 groups of bacteria in common. She concluded that certain types of bacteria seem to boost or lower the risk of insomnia, and the sleep disorder itself also seems to alter the presence of certain types of bacteria. The analysis revealed a total of 14 groups of bacteria were positively associated (1-4 per cent higher odds), and 8 groups negatively associated (1-3 per cent lower odds), with insomnia. Insomnia was also noted to have an effect on gut microbiome. It was linked to a reduction of 43 per cent to 79 per cent of seven groups of bacteria, and a more than four-fold increase in the abundance of 12 other groups. One group in particular, the odoribacter class of bacteria which is also linked to was associated with insomnia. High levels of odoribacter are linked with good gut help and lower levels of inflammation in the body, while lower levels have been observed in people living with diagnoses of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity and type 2 diabetes. Ms Shi said her study further cemented the link between 'the effects of insomnia on gut microbiota, and vice versa', adding that they have a complex two-way relationship. Future treatments for insomnia could therefore include ways to manage levels of gut bacteria, including the use of probiotics, prebiotics, or faecal microbiota transplantation. However, Ms Shi noted that the study was not without limitations which needed further exploration. Firstly, all the study participants were of European descent. This is important to note as the make-up of the microbiome varies among different ethnicities and geographies. Furthermore, lifestyle factors such as diet and lifestyle weren't accounted for. These are known to have an effect the microbiome, and the interplay between genes and the environment, The NHS estimates that around a third of Britons experience insomnia, with a similar figure in the US. WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BODIES IF WE STAY AWAKE FOR DAYS ON END? Failing to sleep for days on end can cause an array of symptoms and may even be deadly. Within the first 24 hours of sleep deprivation, the body's hormone levels change, leading to a rise in blood pressure, SLATE reported. By day two the body is no longer able to break down glucose properly, leading to carbohydrate cravings. A person's body temperature also drops and their immune system becomes compromised. Although no human has ever being reported as dying from insomnia, a 1980s study by the University of Chicago found rats died after 32 days of total sleep deprivation. It is thought the rodents' body temperatures dropped so much they developed hypothermia. Their immune systems may also have become so weak that bacteria normally confined to their guts spread throughout their bodies. Another theory is the animals became so stressed they died. One of the most famous insomniacs is the music teacher Michael Corke, of New Lenox, Illinois, who suffered from the rare disease fatal familial insomnia. He died aged 42 after an alleged six months of total sleep deprivation, however, it cannot be said for sure that insomnia is what killed him. But it is Randy Gardner who holds the record for the longest time without sleep. In 1964 while at secondary school in San Diego, the then 17-year-old stayed awake for 11 days and 25 minutes.
