Infection By Rats

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 3

Infection By Rats

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 30. Pigs could contract trichinosis from dead rats, the livestock superintendent of the Department of Agriculture at Auckland (Mr A. G. Brash) said today. He said it was widely recognised overseas that pigs had been known to catch this disease if they ate the flesh of dead rats around pig farms. Officers from the department were checking on farms on suspect areas of the Auckland province in an attempt to trace ”ie source of the disease. They had orders to catch rats, dead or alive, by any means they liked, said Mr Brash. The rats would be sent to the Ruakura animal research station for analysis. Farmers would also be requested to send pigs in to the department next week.

Butchers in Auckland said today that sales of pork had dropped heavily. Two shops reported no sales of pork at all and others said their trade had been cut by half. Suburban shops said they had received inquiries from householders on the disease and a number of people had cancelled orders for pork. The manager of one shop said: “Our sales are practically nil.”