Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Found this article from Bernama at

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=177475

Quote: PUTRAJAYA, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Animal breeders can be prosecuted for not complying the control measures outlined by the Veterinary Services Department in preventing the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease (FMD), said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said this was to ensure that by the year 2009, Malaysia would be free from the threat of any FMD outbreak.

He said this was because almost all the states except for Sabah and Sarawak faced the threat of an outbreak of the FMD, which affected 1,800 heads of cattle last year.

"This is a worrying trend, and I have asked the Veterinary Services Department to carry out a more thorough check by meeting the animal breeders to ensure that they are practising health measures for their animals, giving vaccine and medicines and that the level of bio-security at their farms are always stringent," he told reporters after chairing the ministry's post-cabinet meeting, here Wednesday.

He said breeders who were found to ignore the regulations and allowed the disease to spread could be prosecuted under the Veterinary Ordinance 1953 and could be fined a minimum of RM200 per animal or six months jail or both upon conviction.

However, Muhyiddin said the ordinance had yet to be enforced and that it would be enforced if necessary.

Meanwhile, the minister said that the government would step up enforcement to prevent the smuggling of beef and other parts of the cattle which were prohibited.

-- BERNAMA

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

Quote: He said this was to ensure that by the year 2009, Malaysia would be free from the threat of any FMD outbreak.

Sincerely I don't think this is possible. Look at other European countries, they have been fighting FMD for decades but the disease still persists.

How much do we know about FMD in Malaysia in order to control and prevent it effectively?

Research on FMD in Malaysia? Unfortunately it's quite rare (if any)!

kcniv · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 52

Dr. TanDY wrote: Sincerely I don't think this is possible. Look at other European countries, they have been fighting FMD for decades but the disease still persists.

I think it's possible... Why Sabah and Sarawak can??? Just stop importing from FMD area.. And do surveillance and monitoring... Biosecurity... etc... There's so much program we can do...

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:16 am Post subject:

In theory that might work. In practice that's different story.

Educating the cattle farmers about disease control is very important. But then when it comes to money (buying cheap, probably not so healthy animal to get more profit) some might "forget" to follow the rules.

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 425

Lets be frank about why it is not realistic for Peninsular Malaysia to become FMD free.

- Malaysia imports (or at least used to,) live ruminants (mainly cattle) from countries that are endemic for FMD. Until the day we can stop that or at least quarantine and test every single animal that comes into the country, we are leaving the greatest biosecurity risk open.

- When cattle owners discover disease in their animals, they will try to sell them as soon as possible to minimize their own losses. The unwitting buyers will transport these animals to other farms that will help in the spread.

- Illegal and unmonitored animal movements make it impossible to contain the disease within the vaccination ring area.

- The disease would have started to take root within the wildlife population making it even harder to eradicate.

- The disease itself is a highly resistant, highly infectious viral disease that can spread by wind, formites, vets, etc. It is hard enough to contain the disease even with the most closely observed biosecurity measures.

- There is very little to be gained even if we were to become free. Malaysia is an importing country for beef, milk, etc. The biggest economic impact of FMD is the trade restrictions that inevitably follow an FMD outbreak. The US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand are exporting countries and the livestock industry brings in billions of dollars so of course there will be political pressure to do all they can to eradicate the disease. Malaysia just does not look at the animal industry as a priority and it will probably not allocate the money and manpower required to fully fight the disease.

The article makes no sense to me. It is surely possible to gain FMD free status but it is not going to be easy or cheap. The second point is it makes no sense to do all these things and not ensure the disease will not come back. If you look at our history we were FMD free until rather recently. Then we started importing cattle and other rumnants from all over with little regulatory success and we have had outbreaks after outbreaks. Unless we have a chance to keep the disease out , don't bother trying to be FMD free. Besides, why would we even care if we were FMD free? We should concentrate on disease control.

kcniv · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 52

Dr csh wrote: highly infectious viral disease that can spread by wind...

Can u tell me how far the wind can spread this VIRUS ??? Air borne disease heh???

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 425

I remember we were taught that a vaccination ring of 5 km was the standard for FMD outbreaks in Malaysia but I could be wrong. It is clear however, through the experiences of the UK, that the picorna virus that causes FMD can travel further than that. It is a small virus and easily carried by the wind. Infected animals shead an enormous number of viral pariticles that can be carried by the wind. Of course, Malaysian weather is less condusive for viral particle survival in the environment. I suspect this method will be less important here but I have no data and this is mere speculation.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

Dr csh wrote: I remember we were taught that a vaccination ring of 5 km was the standard for FMD outbreaks in Malaysia but I could be wrong. It is clear however, through the experiences of the UK, that the picorna virus that causes FMD can travel further than that. It is a small virus and easily carried by the wind. Infected animals shead an enormous number of viral pariticles that can be carried by the wind. Of course, Malaysian weather is less condusive for viral particle survival in the environment. I suspect this method will be less important here but I have no data and this is mere speculation.

Besides the wind, the virus can be easily transmitted by other mechanism. Mechanical and "biological" vectors can play an important role in the outbreak. Not to mention hiding of the animal and smuggling of the animal from the epidermic area. The virus is known to be able to survive in the meat.

I agree that for our country eradication is not feasible. Mortality rate rarely exceed 3% if the secondary bacterial infection is well controlled. The main problem of FMD is economical and political. We can't even produced enough for our own use and rely a lot on importation, eradication is just not so much of a good idea.