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MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1992
A MEETING WAS HELD LAST WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 2) WITH AN EXPERT FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR THE CONTROL OF FMD, UNITED NATION'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION, AIMING ΤΟ SECURE CHEAPER AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE FROM THAILAND.
IN A FURTHER STEP TO HELP THE LIVESTOCK KEEPERS, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED IN OCTOBER INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE FEDERATION ON HOW TO REGISTER AS A VACCINE IMPORTER.
"THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO SECURE CONSISTENT AND REGULAR SUPPLY OF THE VACCINE TO MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION, SHE SAID.
"ALSO AS AN IMPORTER, THE PRICE WOULD BE FREE FROM CURRENCY FLUCTUATION WHEN PLACING ADVANCE ORDERS,
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THE RETAIL PRICE OF THE VACCINE HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $60 PER 20 DOSES IN 1983 TO THE CURRENT PRICE OF $98.
ON THE RECENT OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE, MISS SO SAID FIELD STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT HAD VISITED 79 FARMS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE OUTBREAK WAS FAIRLY MILD EXCEPT IN INDIVIDUAL FARMS AT SAP PAT HEUNG AND SAN TIN AREAS. THE NORTH DISTRICT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN SPARED OF THE ATTACK.
SHE ADDED THAT THE DEATH RATE OF THE DISEASE WAS USUALLY LOW, PARTICULARLY IF AFFECTED PIGS WERE ISOLATED AND GIVEN PROPER HUSBANDRY CARE.
THE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY COMPLETED A SURVEY OF PIG FARMS. BASED ON THE SURVEY RESULTS AND THE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM FARMERS, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT SOME 30,000 PIGS WERE AFFECTED AND 4,200 PIGS HAD DIED.
IN ADDITION, 80 PER CENT OF THE FARMERS CONTACTED REPORTED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED NO OR LITTLE DIFFICULTIES IN BUYING THE VACCINE.
AS REGARDS THE FARMERS' REQUEST FOR MONITORING THE QUALITY AND VIABILITY OF THE VACCINE BY THE DEPARTMENT, MISS 80 EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS NEITHER ADVISABLE NOR PRACTICAL SINCE THIS REQUIRED THE CULTURING OF LIVE VIRUSES FOR TESTING WHICH MIGHT THREATEN THE PIG INDUSTRY BY TRIGGERING OUTBREAKS OF THE DISEASE IN THE TERRITORY.
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