FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 6

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

SHIPOWNERS DEMAND RETENTION OF EMBARGO At the animal meeting of the Otago and Southland Sheep Owners’ Union, field last week, the possibility of the introduction to this country oi foot-and-mouth disease was the subject of serious consideration. As a result the following letter was addressed by the secretary to the Director-General ol the Department of Agriculture “ The sheep owners of this district are very much concerned regarding tho possibility of foot-and-mouth disease being introduced into this country, and at the annual meeting held a few days ago the following resolution was unanimously adopter!:—‘ That so ! ong ns foot-and-mouth disease is prevalent m Great Britain the Government bo urged to sjrictly maintain the embargo on the importation of stock.’ It is a matter of general knowledge that certain sheep breeders’ societies are endeavouring to obtain permission to import stock, but those who ate familiar with tho ravages of the disease m the Old Country contend tnat there is a danger of its introduction here, in spite of any precautions which may ac taken prior to shipment. ‘‘The sheep-growing industry is of •uch vital importance to the prosperity of the dominion that tho introduction of'this disease would be nothing short of a national calamity, and the sheepowners of this district are therefore unanimous in urging that the embargo on the importation of stock be strictly mainlined until the risk of infection is absolutely eliminated.” [Little'is known about the disease. It has for a number of years occurred in different districts in Britain, and the authorities have been unable to trace the causes of these outbreaks. The virus of the disease may retain its vitality for a considerable time, though detached from the host. It has not been isolated, and the length of its possibility is mere surmise. Ruthless methods of destruction are practised in Britain to check the spread of the disease, and, while these methods are successful in limited areas, they do not prevent further outbreaks, often at a great distance from known infected areas. There is no reason to believe fchat U&v, Zealand flocks yould necea-

sarily deteriorate in quality, even if all importation of sheep were prohibited for many years.: Among other animals deer are susceptible to the disease, and if once the deer in the dominion became infected the eradication of the disease would be a practical impossibility.] ' . ' -