The New Straits Times, April 19, 1999
JAPANESE encephalitis (JE) was initially dubbed a "mysterious" disease when it attacked some five victims in October last year. Now, about six months later, it seems we are back in the realm of mystery with the discovery of a new virus, allegedly Hendra-like. What would have been regarded as a seasonal episode has turn into a full-scale nightmare.
On hindsight, it is probably easier to say that JE is not a new problem in this country. It is known to be endemic in many countries, and for the last 21 years, cases were reported periodically in Malaysia. In 1974, 1988 and 1992, sporadic outbreaks were documented.
Despite such occurrences, the situation was carefully kept under control. But this was not to be any longer. Towards the last quarter of last year, the situation became more worrying, affecting mainly pig-farm workers and neighbouring residents.
The rude awakening came when it was brought to light that the pig-farming industry is still in a very primitive state. Reports of several on-site visits during the crisis clearly showed the industry has not lived up to the standard of hygiene and cleanliness expected of a food supply industry.
It is indeed shocking to know that while the country is implementing various quality standards in the food sector nationwide, pig-rearing activities are lagging behind. While numerous eating outlets would have been forced to close down due to non-compliance with such standards, it seems that no pig farm has faced a similar fate.
This becomes more shocking when we consider that pig-farming garners substantial economic returns for the country. In fact, one of the largest pig-farms in the region was said to be located in Malaysia. Perhaps, needless to say, also the dirtiest?
The unhygienic standards of pig-farming have long left trails of pollution in our air and waterways. Evidence of this have been staring at our faces all along. Most of us however never believed such practices could unleash disaster on such a scale.
Others insisted that it was not serious enough to threaten public health order. Fewer still were willing to upset the lucrative pig-rearing business by trying to address the longstanding problem. Consequently, it has been left relatively untouched.
It has taken the JE-related outbreaks to bring the nation to its senses. With the number of deaths from viral encephalitis growing rapidly into three-digit figures, it has dawned on us that something is fundamentally wrong. Though there have been many wild accusations, including sabotage involving foreign agents, the stark truth remains, namely, the pig-farming industry has been left unregulated for far too long.
The situation has forced us to admit there are still many unlicensed and illegal pig-rearing and slaughtering activities being carried out without concern for health and the environment. In short, there is a blatant disregard for health requirements all round.
There is no wonder then that we continue to hear voices lamenting about the apathetic attitude of our people when it comes to enforcing or complying with the law, for instance, to check the spread of mosquitoe-borne diseases or controlling pollution. This is indeed a sad state of affairs because in the last five years, we have had more than our fair share of national outbreaks. The present viral outbreak is by no means an isolated national tragedy.
In 1995, the dumping of more than 40 drums of cyanide in a resort island off the coast of Perak could have easily turned ugly, killing almost instantly millions of Malaysians. In 1996, cholera outbreaks affected more than 1,000 people nationwide. In 1997, we experienced the worst haze in the history of the world. Then the viral myocarditis outbreak began in Sarawak. In turn, 1998 saw the emergence of chikungnya joined by the viral encephalitis foray at its tail end. And of course, a full-blown JE-related disaster this year.
All these events are preventable, if only we had inculcated the right attitude towards health and the environment.
Unfortunately, this is not so. Thus, in almost all these cases, we can point a finger at the carefree, unreasonable and stubborn attitude of the parties concerned; an attitude best described as pig-headedness! An attitude that has cost us not only our loved ones, but our image as a health-conscious nation and people.
Such a pig-headed attitude must be eliminated if we want to avert more disasters. This must be carried out as urgently as we continue to cull the tens of thousands of pigs. It must be planned with as much determination.
Indeed, like JE, pig-headedness is in itself a disease Malaysians must voluntarily immunise themselves against if they want to continue to live in a safer and healthier environment. We cannot wait for another disaster to appear to find out that we're still as pig-headed as ever.
Let's act today and now. Or must we wait until pigs can fly?
For JE info: http://www.prn.usm.my
LATE ACTION ... Pigs receiving vaccination at a farm in Ipoh. The pig-rearing industry has not lived up to the standard of hygiene expected of a food supply industry.
