Control Of Hydatids

Press, Volume C, Issue 29454, 4 March 1961, Page 10

Control Of Hydatids

Every New Zealander has good reason to welcome progress towards eradicating hydatids. In a statement issued last week the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Gillespie) drew publie attention to the successful results of the 1959 legislation and to the need for continued efforts to rid the Dominion completely of the disease. The National Hydatids Council, which encountered serious difficulties in the earliest stages of. the present campaign, has applied itself determinedly to the formidable problems of enlisting the co-operation of dogowners and of educating the public in preventive measures. The community owes its thanks to tl.e council and the local body employees who have undertaken unpleasant and frequently unpopular duties. The success of the campaign is largely attributable to its scientific basis Over the years much reliable knowledge about hydatids has been accumulated by New Zealand scientists. Since the revival of the Hydatids Research Unit and its establishment at Taieri in 1958, intensified studies have been possible. A series of special articles printed recently in “ The Press ” showed the scope and importance of the work being done at Taieri, not ,only in hastening the eradication of hydatids but on more general problems of animal and human parisitology. Without the Taieri

unit the national hydatids eradication scheme would collapse. This is a striking example ot the tremendous value of indigenous research, and a warning against parsimony towards research institutions, especially those linked with the primary industries. By giving £lO,OOO to the Hydatids Council, the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board last year expressed practically and generously its appreciation of the council’s work. Other sections of the community may be less able to contribute financially to the antihydatids campaign, but they also can support it in other ways.

The Hydatids Act forbids the feeding of raw offal to dogs, and defines the penalties for breaches. This part of the act is notoriously hard to enforce; yet it concerns the central problem of Hydatids control. There is no practicable way for the authorities to ensure that dogs are not reinfected after dosing—except by appeal to the common sense and responsibility of the owners. Mr . Gillespie has wisely emphasised that public cooper tion will help to avoid inconvenience, reduce costs, free control officers for more educational work, and generally speed up the campaign. Achievements have already been spectacular enough to commend the Minister’s words to the most hardened objectors among both town and country residents.