kiwibird
Editor, Senior Moderator
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/4/nation/20090604161231&sec=nation
Published: Thursday June 4, 2009 MYT 4:11:00 PM
Trial vaccine for A (H1N1) to be tested on pigs in Perak
By NG CHENG YEE
PUTRAJAYA: A trial on a vaccine against the influenza A (H1N1) virus will be conducted to less than 10,000 pigs in Perak from next week, said Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin.
He said the test would cost RM1mil and it would take six weeks for the results to show whether the vaccine was effective in preventing pigs from contracting the virus.
?If it is proven effective, we will present a Cabinet paper to propose the vaccination off all 1.7 million pigs nationwide,? he told a press conference here Thursday.
He said vaccination for all pigs in the country would cost RM30mil a year and the money was worth spending if it could protect the public?s health.
Currently, he said, the department was also examining all 776 pig farms in the country and almost 80% of them were found clear of the virus.
?It is sufficient to make a conclusion that there is no influenza A (H1N1) at our pig farms,? he said.
On another matter, Dr Abd Aziz said the department gave out RM0.78 per kg chicken for small- and medium-scale farmers who produced less than 20,000 chickens per cycle.
?While for commercial farmers, an incentive of RM0.26 per kg was also given to commercial farmers who can only produce a maximum of 20,000 chickens per cycle,? he said.
Recently, about 100 chicken farmers had gathered at an empty field near the Yong Peng Selatan toll plaza to protest the Government?s policy not to pay incentive to those who produced more than 20,000 chickens per cycle.
?They threatened to burn 20,000 chicks as a sign of protest but our officers managed to calm the situation by telling them that it is an offence under Section 44(1)(d) of the Animal Act 1953,? he said.
He said they could be charged in court under the Act and had their chicks and lorries confiscated should they have burnt the animals.
The Act carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or six months? jail or both for animal cruelty.
Published: Thursday June 4, 2009 MYT 4:11:00 PM
Trial vaccine for A (H1N1) to be tested on pigs in Perak
By NG CHENG YEE
PUTRAJAYA: A trial on a vaccine against the influenza A (H1N1) virus will be conducted to less than 10,000 pigs in Perak from next week, said Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin.
He said the test would cost RM1mil and it would take six weeks for the results to show whether the vaccine was effective in preventing pigs from contracting the virus.
?If it is proven effective, we will present a Cabinet paper to propose the vaccination off all 1.7 million pigs nationwide,? he told a press conference here Thursday.
He said vaccination for all pigs in the country would cost RM30mil a year and the money was worth spending if it could protect the public?s health.
Currently, he said, the department was also examining all 776 pig farms in the country and almost 80% of them were found clear of the virus.
?It is sufficient to make a conclusion that there is no influenza A (H1N1) at our pig farms,? he said.
On another matter, Dr Abd Aziz said the department gave out RM0.78 per kg chicken for small- and medium-scale farmers who produced less than 20,000 chickens per cycle.
?While for commercial farmers, an incentive of RM0.26 per kg was also given to commercial farmers who can only produce a maximum of 20,000 chickens per cycle,? he said.
Recently, about 100 chicken farmers had gathered at an empty field near the Yong Peng Selatan toll plaza to protest the Government?s policy not to pay incentive to those who produced more than 20,000 chickens per cycle.
?They threatened to burn 20,000 chicks as a sign of protest but our officers managed to calm the situation by telling them that it is an offence under Section 44(1)(d) of the Animal Act 1953,? he said.
He said they could be charged in court under the Act and had their chicks and lorries confiscated should they have burnt the animals.
The Act carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or six months? jail or both for animal cruelty.