Under the decision signed by Hoang Quoc Khanh, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the halt will be applied to live cow and buffalo markets in Bac Ha, Muong Khuong and Si Ma Cai from December 28 until further notice.
Can Trau buffalo market in Lao Cai Province.
Every week, these markets provide hundreds of cows and buffaloes. Lao Cai has also ordered the suspension of the purchase of cows and buffaloes from localities that have been affected by the lumpy skin disease virus.
Meanwhile, for localities that have not yet been hit by the disease, cows and buffaloes have to be tested negative for the virus. The test has to be in line with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s quarantine regulations.
Lao Cai authorities have also urged to tighten control over local cows and buffaloes to rapidly detect the virus.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the disease has been discovered on cows and buffaloes in Vietnam since mid-October this year with the outbreak in the northern provinces of Lang Son and Cao Bang.
Lumpy skin disease virus is a double-stranded DNA virus. It is a member of the capripoxvirus genus of Poxviridae and is not infectious to humans. It is believed that arthropod vectors, direct contact, contaminated food and water and iatrogenic means (for example, repeated use of needles on different animals) can all spread the disease.
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