MAY 25

MAY 25, 2003
FIGHTING SARS IN THE RESEARCH LAB
Tests to see if animals can transmit the virus

Focus on cats, dogs and rats. Results likely within 2 weeks

SCIENTISTS here have been doing tests on cats, dogs and rats to see if they can pick up the Sars virus and pass it on to people. Results are expected within two weeks, said Minister of State for National Development Vivian Balakrishnan, a member of the Sars combat team.

Dr Balakrishnan said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), National Environment Agency, Environmental Health Institute and the Genome Institute of Singapore had been carrying out the tests for several weeks.

He said: 'There are no conclusive results yet but the studies will continue.

'We can't rule out any possibility even though the possibility might be very small, because Sars is a new virus. The tests are being done so that all the bases are covered.'

He spoke to reporters last night after launching the Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC's Sarsforce, 250 members of grassroots bodies who will lead the fight against Sars in the constituency.

The GRCs other MPs, Mr David Lim, Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mr Gan Kim Yong and Environment Minister Lim Swee Say, were also present.

Dr Balakrishnan emphasised that the recent culling of strays was for the sake of public hygiene and not because of Sars. About 10,000 to 13,000 stray cats have been put down each year for the last six years. Last year, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals put down 5,212 stray cats and the AVA, 5,517, he said.

'It's a public health concern and with the Singapore's OK campaign, there's a renewed sense of urgency to clean up our environment. There should be no strays, cats, dogs or vermin, near or in food establishments, markets or any other place where food is being sold or handled,' he said.

Recent stepped-up efforts could mean more cats being put down this year, he said.

The AVA had put its Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme, a sterilisation programme started in 1998, on hold because it had not met its objective of reducing the overall problem of strays, he said.

Of the estimated 80,000 stray cats roaming the streets, 70,000 are not sterilised.

Dr Teo suggested this solution: 'Animal lovers should go out and adopt strays, take them home, care for them and organise a programme to take them in as pets,' he said.

When contacted last night, the Cat Welfare Society declined to comment on the culling of cats.