January 27, 2004

No Increase In FMD Cases In Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced that there was no sign of increase in foot-and-mouth disease in Hong Kong pig farms.

A spokesman for the AFCD said the number of pigs infected foot-and-mouth disease in January was lower than that in the same period of last year. The Department had reminded farmers to vaccinate their pigs before winter. They also inspected pig farms regularly to ensure the hygiene and pigs' health were up to grade.

According to a representative of Hong Kong Livestock Industry Association, there was no substantial increase in the number of foot-and-mouth deaths, with scattered cases in Yuen Long, Kam Tin and North District.

Farmers vaccinate their pigs in recent years, and the death rate of pigs due to the disease has dropped from 30 percent to 10 percent, indicating that the disease is under a better control, according to the spokesman.