Vietnam: Mass Dairy Cow Deaths in Lâm Đồng Linked to Vaccinations, Ministry Confirms
Source: The DairyNews
The recent mass mortality of dairy cows in Lâm Đồng Province has been linked to vaccinations, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phùng Đức Tiến. The Deputy Minister confirmed the connection during a visit to the affected areas, following the deaths of at least 193 cows due to a diarrhoea outbreak that has impacted nearly 4,500 cows since late July.
The outbreak has primarily affected dairy herds in the Đơn Dương and Đức Trọng districts. Local farmers reported that symptoms, including diarrhoea, fever, and gastrointestinal bleeding, began shortly after the cows were vaccinated for lumpy skin disease, raising suspicions about the vaccine's role in the outbreak.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the Department of Animal Health to develop a treatment protocol for the affected cows and to conduct further testing to pinpoint the exact cause of the outbreak. The Ministry has also pledged support to the affected farmers, including the provision of medical supplies and medicines, and is evaluating the extent of the damage to provide appropriate compensation or assistance.
Deputy Minister Tiến highlighted that the vaccinations were administered in two rounds, approximately two weeks apart. He noted that the second group of cows showed persistent illness up to nine days after receiving the vaccine. "All cows received the same batch of vaccine," Tiến stated, adding that while this vaccine has been used without issue in other provinces, particularly on yellow cows, the nearly 9,000 cows vaccinated in Lâm Đồng were dairy cows, which may have responded differently.
The Ministry has requested a comprehensive report from the vaccine manufacturer, Navetco, and will thoroughly review the vaccination process, from research and development to production and administration, to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Addressing concerns about potential hesitancy among farmers to continue vaccinating their livestock, Deputy Minister Tiến acknowledged the fear but expressed confidence that trust would be restored once the cause of the incident is identified and rectified. He emphasized the success of vaccines in combating other diseases, such as bird flu, lumpy skin disease, and foot-and-mouth disease, underscoring their essential role in protecting livestock and ensuring stable agricultural production.
This incident underscores the critical importance of vaccine safety and efficacy in the agricultural sector, as well as the need for prompt and thorough responses to any adverse events that may arise.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the Department of Animal Health to develop a treatment protocol for the affected cows and to conduct further testing to pinpoint the exact cause of the outbreak. The Ministry has also pledged support to the affected farmers, including the provision of medical supplies and medicines, and is evaluating the extent of the damage to provide appropriate compensation or assistance.
Deputy Minister Tiến highlighted that the vaccinations were administered in two rounds, approximately two weeks apart. He noted that the second group of cows showed persistent illness up to nine days after receiving the vaccine. "All cows received the same batch of vaccine," Tiến stated, adding that while this vaccine has been used without issue in other provinces, particularly on yellow cows, the nearly 9,000 cows vaccinated in Lâm Đồng were dairy cows, which may have responded differently.
The Ministry has requested a comprehensive report from the vaccine manufacturer, Navetco, and will thoroughly review the vaccination process, from research and development to production and administration, to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Addressing concerns about potential hesitancy among farmers to continue vaccinating their livestock, Deputy Minister Tiến acknowledged the fear but expressed confidence that trust would be restored once the cause of the incident is identified and rectified. He emphasized the success of vaccines in combating other diseases, such as bird flu, lumpy skin disease, and foot-and-mouth disease, underscoring their essential role in protecting livestock and ensuring stable agricultural production.
This incident underscores the critical importance of vaccine safety and efficacy in the agricultural sector, as well as the need for prompt and thorough responses to any adverse events that may arise.
