By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Nov 24: Sarawak is now more or less clear of African Swine Fever (ASF), says Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
Dr Rundi said although feedback was received saying that the staff are overworked including having to work on weekends, it has resulted in Sarawak making a comeback in the pig farming industry.
“Now that we are already more or less clear and we maintained our foot and mouth disease (FMD)-free status, our products are very much marketable in Singapore and the rest of the world,” he said when attending the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) Appreciation Ceremony 2024 held at Penview Convention Center (PCC) yesterday (Nov 23).
Meanwhile, on rabies, Rundi said more engagement and awareness programmes need to be held to educate the public.
“For example, Serian districts have the highest rates of dog bites, but no death cases are recorded.
“So what we can do is to explain in terms of the medical part of it, such as once they are bitten they have to carry out specific procedures to prevent rabies infection,” he added. — DayakDaily
