FLFAM CALLS FOR H1N1 VACCINE BE BROUGHT IN FROM U.S.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Livestock Farmers
Association of Malaysia (FLFAM) is asking the Veterinary Services Department to
approve immediately the application made since five years ago, to bring in the
H1N1 vaccine from the United States.

FLFAM's Pig Unit chairman Beh Kim Hee said now was the suitable time to
allow the vaccine to be brought in to prevent the spread of swine flu to this
country.

"A company had applied to the department to be the supplier of the vaccine
to prevent pigs here from being infected by the H1N1 virus," he told reporters,
adding that FLFAM would write to the department to seek immediate approval for
the application "for the good of all parties".

Hee said FLFAM would, on humanitarian grounds, do whatever it could to
prevent the people from being infected by swine flu although its action could be
seen by some quarters as profit-motivated.

He said FLFAM supported all efforts undertaken by the government to prevent
the spread of the disease to Malaysia, like stopping the import of pork and
screening people coming from countries with cases of swine flu.

In a related development, Hee denied reports in some Chinese newspapers that
Malaysia imported about 40 per cent of the pork when the statistics last year
showed only about five per cent. This is because the country's 797 pig farms can
meet the local demand for pork.

Meanwhile, president of the Malaysian Association of Food Animal
Veterinarians (MAFAV), Dr Vincent Ng, said two local serosurveys done
found that Malaysian pigs had been exposed to the H1N1 influenza virus but it
was not the same type that was causing the problem in Mexico.

However, Dr Ng said, to prevent co-infection of two viruses and then
causing
virus re-assortment, MAFAV urged the Veterinary Services Department to
consider allowing local farmers to vaccinate their pigs.

"Vaccination of pigs against flu virus can reduce the emergence of
virulent influenza virus," he said.

He also suggested that pig, poultry and other livestock producers continue
with the Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) to prevent entry of the disease
agents into the farms, notably by ensuring good sanitation, bio-security, and
control of movement of animals, feed and people at the animal facilities.


The Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) urged the Health
Ministry and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to set up high-
powered surveillance teams to inspect all pig and poultry farms in the country
to see that the conditions are according to international standards of farm
administration, hygiene and food safety.

Its call was made in response to feedback received that several farms in
the country were run in shoddy and unhygienic conditions that could cause
irreversible environmental pollution.

Cassa said in a statement that the swine flu which came after the epidemics
of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and avian flu should send a clear
message to the authorities to regularly inspect all farms in the country.

It said it was important to look at the size each operation, as in some
cases thousands of animals were crowded together in a deplorable condition, and
at the manner the animal wastes were discharged, as these could cause
significant environmental threats and health risks.

"It is pertinent that farms which violate environmental and health standards
are immediately closed and action taken against the operators," it added.

-- BERNAMA