XN000022-1992-12-07 — Page 11

10

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1992

PIG FARMERS ASSURED OF VACCINE SUPPLY

PIG FARMERS WERE TODAY (MONDAY) ASSURED THAT THE CURRENT SUPPLY OF VACCINE FOR ANIMAL FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) WAS SUFFICIENT AND THE RECENT OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE WAS UNDER CONTROL.

IN A MEETING WITH PIG FARMERS, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MISS VERA SO, TOLD THEM THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN MONITORING THE SITUATION.

VIRUS SAMPLES WERE SENT TO THE FMD WORLD REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR TYPING TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE USED BY LOCAL FARMERS.

SHE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM LOCAL VACCINE AGENTS THAT SOME 180,000 DOSES OF THE VACCINE WERE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

AS THE VACCINE HAS A SHORT SHELF LIFE OF ABOUT 10 MONTHS, THE SUPPLIERS EMPHASISED THAT ONLY ADVANCE FIRM ORDERS COULD AVOID UNNECESSARY DELAY OR INTERRUPTION OF SUPPLY.

FARMERS WERE ADVISED THAT THE VACCINE REQUIRED SOME 12 WEEKS

FOR MANUFACTURING AND ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS FOR DELIVERY.

AT TODAY'S MEETING, THE DEPARTMENT AGREED TO SECURE VACCINE- SUPPLY FOR FARMERS FOR USE IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF NEXT YEAR AS A SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE MEASURE.

IN THE LONG RUN, THE FEDERATION OF PIG RAISERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (FEDERATION), WHICH REPRESENTED MANY LOCAL PIG FARMERS, PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPORTING THE VACCINE DIRECT THEMSELVES.

ON THE CONTROL OF OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE, MISS SO REITERATED THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN CURES AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE CONTROL WAS PREVENTIVE VACCINATION ADMINISTERED BY PIG FARMERS THEMSELVES.

MISS SO EXPLAINED THAT SINCE THE DEPARTMENT STOPPED THE FREE VACCINATION SERVICE IN APRIL 1990, THE PIG FARMERS EXPERIENCED NO DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE VACCINE.

AFTER LEARNING THAT SUPPLY MIGHT BE INTERRUPTED FRENCH MANUFACTURER RELOCATED THE PRODUCTION FACILITIES THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY CLARIFIED WITH THE AND WAS AFFIRMED THAT MORE THAN 200,000 DOSES WOULD BE THE HONG KONG MARKET IN FEBRUARY.

BECAUSE THE IN JANUARY MANUFACTURER AVAILABLE

IN

MANUFACTURERS

"CLOSE LIAISON WAS ALSO MAINTAINED WITH OVERSEAS CURRENTLY SUPPLYING THE VACCINE TO THE TERRITORY, MISS SO SAID.

IN EARLY OCTOBER, THE DEPARTMENT MET THE PIG FARMERS AGAIN ΤΟ DISCUSS THE SUPPLY PROBLEM OF THE VACCINE. THEN ENQUIRIES WERE MADE OF A NUMBER OF OVERSEAS COUNTRIES ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MANUFACTURING THE VACCINE IN HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE CHEAPER SUPPLIES OF VACCINE.

/A MEETING

+