T.B. PROBLEM AREAS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 20

T.B. PROBLEM AREAS

Karamea And Murchison

The Karamea and Murchison districts have been declared tuberculosis problem areas.

Announcing this, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Talboys) said it was suspected on initial test of herds in these districts that there might have been both tuberculosis reaction and nonspecific reaction in the same herd. “In these circumstances the usual procedure is to declare such areas problem areas, and this I have done.” Non-specific reactors had been found in both districts on repeat testing and this had been dealt with by departmental staff using the short thermal test. The effect of the declaration of problem areas was that the short thermal test would be used not only in repeat tests but also in initial tests where there wag the slightest suspicion of non-specific reaction. Farmers whose testing was done by private or club veterinarians should listen to their advice about the use of the short thermal test, but tell their veterinarians immediately if they intended to apply to the department for it

“This is to ensure that caudal fold reactors will not be tagged before the short thermal test is used,” said Mr Taiboys. “Farmers should remember that the final decision in the use of the short thermal test rests with my department, and if fanners are not satisfied with the results of the caudal fold test, they should consult the department’s veterinarian in the district.”