Full-scale push for prevention and control of major animal epidemics in autumn and winter
On September 10, the Ministry of Agriculture held a national video conference on autumn prevention and control of major animal epidemics, thoroughly analyzing the current animal epidemic prevention and control situation and making arrangements for the prevention and control of major animal epidemics in autumn and winter. Vice Minister of Agriculture Yu Kangzhen stressed that strong measures must be taken to solidly carry out all autumn prevention work and strive to ensure that no regional major animal epidemic and no major animal product quality and safety incident occurs.
Yu Kangzhen pointed out that since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and animal husbandry and veterinary departments at all levels have closely focused on the overall prevention and control goal of “two efforts to ensure”, vigorously implemented all measures, and achieved remarkable results in the prevention and control of major animal epidemics. The peste des petits ruminants epidemic was quickly and effectively controlled, the H7N9 influenza elimination action progressed smoothly, and post-disaster animal epidemic prevention work was solid and effective. He stressed that, judging from the current domestic epidemic situation, hidden dangers of outbreaks still exist, and the risk of outbreaks remains very high. Globally, the epidemic situation is complex and the threat to our country is increasing. All localities must attach great importance to autumn and winter prevention and control work and ensure the full completion of established goals and tasks. First, efforts must be made to carry out basic immunization. The autumn concentrated immunization work was fully launched on September 10, with the aim of completing it by the end of October and carrying out immunization effect evaluation in mid-November. Supervision of vaccine quality must be strengthened, the production and supply of vaccines must be well organized, and the smooth progress of autumn prevention work must be guaranteed. Second, efforts must be made to do a good job in monitoring and early warning. All localities must carry out monitoring around priority diseases for prevention and control such as foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, and brucellosis, and do a good job in the eradication of equine infectious anemia and glanders. Third, efforts must be made to strengthen veterinary health supervision and law enforcement. The supervision system for cross-provincial transport of live livestock and poultry must be further improved, and the management of certificates, badges, and markings must be strengthened. Taking the “improve quality and strengthen ability” action as an opportunity, the quality and ability of law enforcement personnel must be comprehensively improved. Fourth, efforts must be made to strengthen prevention and control in border areas. Adhering to “internal prevention and external blocking”, border prevention and control measures must be further refined and made more concrete, and a border-area “blocking belt” must be built. The regionalized management model for animal epidemics must be explored, and the construction of disease-free zones and biosafety isolation zones must be vigorously promoted. Fifth, overall efforts must be made in the prevention and control of zoonoses and common diseases. Prevention and treatment of key zoonoses such as brucellosis, schistosomiasis, echinococcosis, and rabies must be effectively carried out, prevention and control of common diseases such as pig diarrhea must be coordinated, comprehensive epidemic prevention management must be strengthened, and the biosafety level of farms must be improved. Sixth, efforts must be made to do a good job in all emergency preparations. Plans must be further improved, and the 24-hour emergency duty and leadership duty systems must be strictly implemented. Once an epidemic occurs, the plan must be launched quickly to prevent spread and expansion.
In response to the new situations and new problems currently faced by animal epidemic prevention work, Yu Kangzhen stressed that all localities must recently focus on advancing several key tasks. The prevention and control of peste des petits ruminants must be effectively carried out, and an eradication plan must be promptly formulated and implemented. H7N9 influenza prevention and control must be strengthened, the H7N9 influenza elimination plan must be accelerated, and prevention and control work for avian influenza subtypes such as H5, H7, and H9 must be coordinated. The harmless treatment of dead animals must be accelerated, territorial management responsibilities must be implemented, and the establishment of a long-term mechanism must be accelerated. Livestock and poultry slaughter management must be carried out well, responsibility adjustments must be accelerated, and slaughter quality and safety supervision must be effectively carried out.
The heads of each working group under the Ministry of Agriculture's fixed-point contact system for prevention and control of major animal epidemics and responsible comrades from relevant departments of the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army and the Logistics Department of the Armed Police Headquarters attended the meeting at the main venue. Responsible comrades from veterinary departments of all provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps attended the meeting at branch venues.