Thailand supports Lao PDR to control ASF outbreaks

BANGKOK, June 25 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has provided technical and material support to Lao PDR to help control ongoing outbreaks of the African swine fever (ASF) in the neighboring country. Dr. Jeerasak Pipattanapongsophon, Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Livestock Development, told journalists on Tuesday that provincial livestock offices in Thai border areas have been instructed to work together with relevant authorities of Lao border areas to control the ASFoutbreaks in the neighboring country. Dr. Jeerasak stated that his department has also provided material support to Lao PDR to contain the ASF outbreaks, including hundreds of liters of disinfectant sprays and dozens of items of other devices to be used for controlling the spreading of the animal disease. "The Lao government has sent a letter to my department to express Vientiane's thankfulness for the technical and material support", Dr. Jeerasak acknowledged. According to the senior Thai official, his department is ready to dispatch more material support to business operators running swine farms in Lao PDR, if requested, based on the international principle of cooperation between the public and the private sectors. The senior Thai official said his department has been notified by Lao authorities that they are trying to prevent the spreading of the ASF to more provinces, including Savannakhet Champasak, Sekong and Attapua, after the ASF has hit Toumlan and Salavane Provinces since earlier this month. (TNA)