Guarding Against Entry Of Disease

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29985, 21 November 1962, Page 12

Guarding Against Entry Of Disease

Th* riak of irrtroduction of serious comraunicable animal disease is greeter now than at any time in the history of the country and every effort must be made to prevent such entries with their risks tri crippling loses to the livestock industry and the possible establishment of diseases requiring prolonged and costly eradication or vaccination campaigns, says the Department of Agriculture, outlining measures that have been taken to tighten precautions.

“Already steps have been taken to tighten controls. In April thia year, after consideration of the disease situation in Africa and Europe, a greatly increased examination of passenger baggage was Introduced. The handling of ships’ garbage came under Stricter supervision and inspection.

“The countries of the world were classified into ‘risk’ categories, which are continually reviewed. Staffing was increased where necessary to handle extra controls and inspection*. Outbreaks of swine fever in Australia earlier in the year led to closer attention being paid to passengers from Australia. “Too many passengers from grave-risk countries bring in their baggage such potentially dangerous material as soil, straw packing, non-sterile meat products, fruit, plants, poultry, eggs, saddles, dirty boots, untreated skins, and feathers. Used cars from other than the United Kingdom must be steam cleaned to remove soil before release is permitted in New Zealand.

“Improved and intafWiAod training programme* hav* been introduced tor port officetv and liaison with th* Custom* Department ha* been intensified. Custom* staff handling passenger bagffaffe hav* been given instruction in quarantine controls and risks, and liaison with the Forest Service has been extended to the sharing of fumigation facilities. “The port agriculture inspection service is a roteguard against the introduction of serious animal and plant diseases which could have a severe effect on New Zealand production. Th* controls necessary on shipping and aircraft passengers and good* must be kept continually under review in the light of the increasing risk caused by increasing international air-traffic, outbreaks of serious endemic diseases in countries with which New Zealand ha* passenger and goods traffic, break-down of controls in places such as Africa arising from political disturbances, and opening up of new markets. “Up to IMO animal quarantine controls and plant quarantine controls were dealt with by separate staff groups at ports. To improve efficiency of controls, services were reorganised in September, IMO, into a unified service staffed by port agriculture officers. This has resulted in better co-ordination, better training, flexibility in movements of staff, and better public relations.”