Hydatids Eradication In Iceland

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30741, 4 May 1965, Page 11

Hydatids Eradication In Iceland

One hundred years ago hydatids was a major health problem in Iceland. One in every four or five persons was infected.

Today Iceland is free from hydatids disease in humans. The Echinococcus tapeworm has also been successfully eradicated from dogs. The last case recorded in humans was in 1960. Iceland has an area of about 40,000 square miles—compared with 44,000 square miles in the North Island of New Zealand—but the greater part of the interior consists of a barren, volcanic plateau devoid of vegetation and covered with ice, lava, and ash. Only 386 square miles is arable.

The measures adopted to eradicate hydatids in Iceland are described in an information bulletin published by the National Hydatids Council. They involved education of the communtiy, and the ' enforcement of stringent legislation. An intensive education campaign in Icelandic schools emphasised the life-cycle of hydatids, and the danger of close association with dogs. Similar education was carried out in the adult community. The greatest empasis was laid on the importance of preventing dogs gaining access to raw offal.

The number of dogs was greatly reduced by a taxation system which in 1960 was equal to 15s a year for working farm dogs, and £7 10s for dogs owned by other persons. Local authorities have the power to forbid altogether the keeping of dogs, and for the

last 30 to 40 years this has been enforced in all towns and most villages. At the same time, there have been marked changes in general living standards and hygiene, and a change in farming from the running of wethers for meat production and hand-milking of ewes for cheese and butter-making, which necessitated close daily contaet of women and sheep, and of dogs and sheep. Sheep in Iceland today are farmed for fat-lamb production. Arecoline Dosing

All dogs in Iceland in a certain area are treated on the same day with arecoline hydrobromide, the same drug as is used in New Zealand for treating dogs. The purges are collected and destroyed. Treated dogs are given a special collar or are ear clipped. Any unmarked dogs are subsequently picked up by the police, advertised for 10 days, and if not claimed are destroyed. Slaughter houses have been built throughout Iceland out side which it is forbidden to kill sheep. Admission to dogs is strictly forbidden. Legislation is in force which forbids the feeding of dogs with any entrails of sheep or cattle. Although the true hydatids Echinococcus granulosus has been eradicated completely, the false hydatid, Taenia hydatigena, although has reduced in incidence, has not been eradicated. This would indicate a failure to achieve complete prohibition of access of dogs to infection. Copies of the pamphlet are available on request to the National Hydatids Council, P.O. Box 3148, Wellington.