Bluetongue-type virus in more Aust. states

Press, 29 November 1977, Page 6

Bluetongue-type virus in more Aust. states

NZPA Canberra The bluetongue-related virus, which was identified in the Northern Territory earlier this year, has now been found in northern Queensland, and there are unconfirmed suspicions of its presence in Western Australia as well. However, officials of the Department of Primary Industry in Canberra have said that there has been no case yet of the virus actually causing any signs of illness in sheep. The virus can be carried without harm by cattle and buffalo, but bluetongue has, in the past, caused serious losses among sheep flocks. In Darwin, the Minister for Primary Industry (Mr lan 1 Sinclair) has said he hopes that the ban placed on the I movement of cattle from the j Northern Territory, after dis- ■ covery of the virus, could : soon be lifted. Mr Sinclair said: “I know many people are apprehensive about the effect of the quarantine on the territory's cattle industry.” Mr Sinclair said that since j the virus was first discovered j at Beatrice Hill, in the North, ern Territory, indications of it had also been found in Queensland and Western Australia. The department officials said these indications had generally been found in northern Queensland. although there had also been positive recordings from samples taken from Northern Territory cattle, that had been sent to Brisbane. The officials said there had also been unconfirmed reports that the virus might also be present, in the far northern gulf region of Western Australia. They said these reports were still being checked. The officials said that the Kimberley area of Western Australia had been checked, and had been found to be free of the virus. Mr Sinclair said the virus so far appeared to have had no effect on cattle. “There are indications that

(the virus has been present in 'the top end of the territory for some time, possibly for many years,” Mr Sinclair said. “If that proves to be so, then initial fears for the pastoral industry can be allayed.” Mr Barry Cassell, national director of the Cattlemen’s Union of Australia, said all live cattle and semen exports from the Northern Territory had been rejected already and there was a danger exports from the whole of Australia would cease. He said it was difficult to convince the international trading community that the outbreak was isolated and that it may not even be virulent. South Korea and Hong Kong had already indicated they intended to ban imports

[of all Australian meat, hide) and offal. Mr Cassell said i He said that Japan migh also take similar action. Th ] Japanese Agriculture Minis try said on Friday that it ha 'no intention of imposing I ban on cattle imports frot j Australia since the diseas did not affect beef and n live cattle came from Aus tralia at the moment. The Ministry added that i would have to consider ugh) ening quarantine measure early next year, as a Japan ese agricultural organisatio j planned to import calve ’ from Australia next March. Mr Cassell said a state q emergency should be r'= I dared in the Northern Tern I tory cattle industry, wit 'either an inoculation or ] slaughter programme t. eradicate the virus once idea Itified.