SWINE FEVER

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development how many cases of swine fever have been detected in the Republic re- cently; what steps have been taken to check the spread of the disease; and whether the disease is now under control.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the first case of swine fever was detected in Singapore on 8th July this year. Up to 26th August this year, 57 cases of swine fever involving 680 pigs were reported and confirmed. A mass vaccination campaign has been and is still being carried out, and so far about 113,000 pigs at 1,485 farms have been vaccinated. Publicity is also being given in the Press and over radio and television and through the distribution of hand-bills to advise farmers to have their pigs vaccinated as early as possible. In addition, the import and export of pigs have been temporarily suspended. The disease has been brought under control, but its complete eradication cannot be expected in the near future in view of the fact that territories surrounding Singapore are also infected with the disease. Further, some ignorant farmers are adopting a wait-and-see attitude instead of getting their pigs vaccinated as soon as possible.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister say how long will a pig so immunised be immune from such a disease?

Mr Barker: Vaccinated pigs are protected for at least one year, probably more.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Now that the disease is under control, what other steps can be taken to immunise the entire pig population so as to prevent any possible outbreak of swine fever?

Mr Barker: Although a large number of pigs have already been vaccinated, I agree with the hon. Member for Punggol that the only effective method is to vaccinate all pigs. But as I have said just now, many a farmer is reluctant to come forward and have his pigs vaccinated. The only way we can do it is to pass legislation to compel farmers to have their pigs vaccinated. But for the moment we do not think that such a measure is called for. We would rather use methods of persuasion than methods of compulsion.

Mr Tang See Chim: Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Minister say that the reluctance of the farmers is due mainly to economic considerations? Will the Ministry lower the cost of the injections, so that reluctance would disappear?

Mr Barker: I am sure the amount charged for vaccination is not the prohibitive factor. It is rather ignorance and hoping for the best until the disease strikes the farm. And then they come running to the Primary Production Department. When that happens, sometimes it is rather late. So once again I say that if all farmers will come forward, if the vaccination is free, we will give it to them free. But they will not.

Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong): Would the Minister consider rendering assistance to the affected farmers to restore their business?

Mr Barker: So far the assistance we have given is to vaccinate the pigs. But the only method of assisting farmers would be for my Ministry to liaise with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Though my Ministry is in charge of pigs, it is the Ministry of Social Affairs that assists farmers who lose their pigs. But so far no requests for assistance have reached us.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: (In Mandarin): Once the Primary Production Department has discovered that there is swine fever in an area, will the affected pigs be taken over by the Primary Production Department or returned to the farmers? This poses a threat to the consumers, as they are afraid that they might buy the diseased pork.

Mr Barker: I can assure the hon. Member for Delta that no diseased pork is sold in our markets. Whenever swine fever is reported or detected in a farm, the farm is completely isolated. No pigs, are allowed to go in or to be taken out. And any pigs that die as a result of the disease are buried on the spot. So consumers need have no fears that the meat or the pork that they are consuming is infected pork.