Anti-climax welcome

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 16

Anti-climax welcome

After the excitement and anixibty of-the last two weeks, caused by the discovery of blisters on some pigs in South Can- ■ terbury, the news, that: thero is;Ao ,evidence of any virus in the tissues sent to ■ England' for testing is Jan ariti-climax, but a very welcome one. Now that the sometimes dramatic events can be looked at without -the Jspectre of a disaster for New Zealand hanging over them, it should be possible? to Jearn some: useful lessons ’.from, them.- j ; ■ ■ Thankfully; the lessons appear to be minor rather than major. The preliminary assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is that no significant changes will be needed in its procedures to cope with an outbreak of foot-and-mouth or any other exotic animal disease. Small changes may be heeded imsome procedures to improve i.effici^nby : in . isolating : arid eradicating [ any outbreak; arid the Ministry will have to examine closely its ability to »cope with\a-. major or with ■ simultaneous . in different parts of the country. But the main J lesson to be drawn from .the events’of .the last two weeks is that the Miriistry is already prepared to cope with any crisis of this nature? ; = The demonstration- that the Minis-

try can and will move quickly and effectively when there is the smallest hint of an outbreak of- any unwanted disease should have helped to reassure countries, which purchase animal products from New Zealand, that the country will never be caught flat-footed. Any charge of carelessness about animal health or hygiene simply cannot be sustained as an argument to close markets to New Zealand primary products. p The scare has also been a salutary reminder to all New Zealanders, even city dwellers, of the need for care to protect New Zealand’s primary industries from any diseases which may be introduced from overseas. The Ministry should, perhaps, strike while the iron is still warm at least and remind travellers why certain apparently harmless prac-,. ices are strictly forbidden. The vigilance of officers of the-Ministry at the country’s ports and airports is the real check against the possible entry of any unwanted , disease.. But .preventing this is, ' to some extent, a responsibility of all' travellers entering ;. New' Zealand, a responsibility which returning New Zealanders should take particularly seriously because their national livelihood is at stake.- .