HANOI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will build five national quarantine stations to ensure requirements for animal transportation in major localities along its north-south highway to prevent and fight against African swine fever (ASF), Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday.

During a teleconference held on Monday by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung assigned the ministry to issue documents guiding the slaughter of pigs in affected areas under the supervision of veterinary agencies.

The deputy prime minister tasked the agriculture ministry to partner with relevant ministries and agencies to outline policies to support farmers and businesses who have had their infected pigs culled.

He also asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to work with ministries, agencies, and provincial authorities to purchase and slaughter pigs for cold storage to balance the pork supply during the remaining months of this year.

According to the agriculture ministry, African swine fever had occurred in 2,296 communes in 204 districts of 29 cities and provinces as of May 12 in Vietnam. More than 1.2 million pigs, or over four percent of Vietnam's total pig population, were infected with the disease and culled.

African swine fever is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs which can be spread by live or dead pigs and pork products, the World Organization for Animal Health said, noting that the ASF virus is harmless to humans, but causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs and wild boars that is almost fatal.