SWINE FEVER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 120, 24 May 1933, Page 3

SWINE FEVER

CASES IN HUTT VALLEY

PIGS TO BE KILLED

PUBLIC REASSURED

The symptoms of swine fever on a farm at Nai Nai, north of Lower Hutt, have been investigated, and the result isa confirmation of the fears that the disease has spread to this part of the Hutt Valley. There aro 130 pigs on this farm, and all will be destroyed as soon as the trenches are dug to receive them, probably tomorrow. Though rigid inspections are being:made of all pig farms in the yalley, so far no further symptoms of. swine fever have been discovered there.' As far as.the Johnsonville area is concerned, all operations should be completed either late today, or tomorrow. No effort is being spared to expedite the,work, but the ground on the last farm being cleared, is rocky, and the digging-is a slow process. The total number of pigs-that will have been destroyed, or, have died as the result of the outbreak of swine fever in tho Johnsonville area when the last infected farm is dealt with, will be 1606. Apparently in. this area the disease has been checked, as there are no more reports of' suspicious cases ': ' up to the present. The third pig found in the harbour was examined very carefully. No blood test was possible, but it is practically established that the animal was infected. To date the Department's officer's have been unable to trace the owner of the pig. The inspectors of the Agriculture Department arc making an extended examination of the surrounding country in the "hope of detecting, and possibly checking, any further outbreaks. Beports of suspicious deaths amongst pigs have been received from parts of the Manawatu, but visits paid there yesterday by the officers of the Department proved that the deaths were not due to swine fever, and so far there are no symptoms of the disease in that district. Most of the animals destroyed by the Department to date are the ordinary pigs of commerce, and bo far no stud herds have been affected. The quality of the pigs destroyed has nevertheless been reflected in the valuation made for the purpose of compensation. If a stud herd were affected and had to be destroyed, it would mean a jump in valuations, as some of the best of the purebred stud type fetch big prices, even'as very small pigs. The pork and bacon industry is a fairly large one in New Zealand. About hali a million pigs are killed annually. Of these 400,000' are eaten locally, and the balance exported. PUBLIC SAFEGUARDED. Tho following statement is made to the Press.by the hon. secretary of tho New Zealand Association' of Bacon Curcrs (Mr. M. Hausmann) :— As secretary of tho New Zealand Association of Bacon Curcrs I feel it is my duty to allay all feelings that tho public may havo in reference to tho above disease that has broken out amongst the pigs iv the Hutt and Johnsonvillo districts. The following aro; tho essential points to bo borno in mind:— - . (1) That the swine foyer is localised—■ viz., to the Hutt and Johnsonvillo districts—and: all of the pig", in these respective- districts are now under tho supervision of the Department of Agriculture, and isolated. (2) That all pigs affected by tho disease, and all pigs on such farm or farms whether affocted or otherwise are destroyed. ■ - ■. (3) That all. pigs-handled by the bacon factories are killed on licensed premises, and. under the supervision of a qualified officer of the Department of Agriculture. , , ■ • (4) That no meat is permitted to be handled by any such factories unless passed as fit for human consumption. .(5) That all factories are ; subject to the inspection of the officer of the Department of Agriculture as well as the,officer.of tho Health.Department. Aa the pig and bacon industry is a growing industry in this Dominion, tho members of the New Zealand Bacon Curers' Association view its importance from a national standpoint, and the public can. rest assured that all bacon and products of a ; bacon factory are under strict supervision and fit for human consumption.