Blue-ear pig epidemic hits three Vietnamese provinces

HANOI, March 2 (Chinese media) -- A blue-ear epidemic in pigs is developing in

three Vietnamese provinces, resulting in nearly a thousand of pigs being

infected with the blue-ear virus, said the Department of Animal Health under the

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday.

In northern province Quang Ninh, the disease infected about 50 pigs raised

on two local farms, said the department.

In central province Quang Nam, the virus is plaguing pig farms in 20

communes of four districts, causing the culling of nearly 700 pigs, said the

department.

Meanwhile the disease broke out recently in the Mekong Delta province of

Bac Lieu, infecting 13 pigs with the blue-ear virus, said the department.

The ministry vows to speed up measures to prevent diseases in livestock

this year.