WAR ON HYDATIDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 21, 22 December 1938, Page 11

WAR ON HYDATIDS

A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN. WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. The co-operation of all dog-owners 3 being sought in a national effort to tamp out hydatid disease in New Zealand. By regulations under the logs Registration Amendment Act,, lassed by Parliament without apportion in 1937 and which come into iperation on January 1, local aut|i° rlies are required to supply, owners nth an approved remedy for treating lieir dogs, and if the instructions are aith fully carried out the prevalence if this deadly disease should lie greats V reduced. During the last five years ;87 oases were admitted to hospital, md last year there were 14 deaths. The remedy approved is a prepara;ion known u,s arecolipe hydrohromiqe, it was decided upon after exhaustive investigation by the Hydatid Kgiearch Committee of the Otago MediM School in consultation With otti;ers Of the Health Department. Instructions as to its use are set out HI die regulations and a printed copy of the instructions must, in accordance ivith the Dogs Registration Amendment Act, 1937,. be given to catch person registering a dog. . . , Arrangements have been completed For the Government to purchase the :lrug in hulk and for its distribution to the local authorities. The charge to the owners has been fixed at is a dog, except where a dog is registered for the first time after JuW P? a, ‘ v year, Then the fee is fixed at 6d. The prices are intended to coyer the actual cost of purchase plus a, small margin for administrative expenses. ADVICE TO OWNERSA list of precautions against the disease has lieep drawn UP by the Hydatid Research Committee Of the MedicaL School after consultation with the Government Department? ol Health, Agriculture and Education. It is as follows ; (1) Of Highest Importance.—Never feed dogs on the raw offal (liver, lungs, plucks, lights) removed from thp carcase of a sliefip, because that is the way to infect the dogs with, tapeworms, which then spread hydatid disease among human beings and form animals in the form of cysts. Ibis offal can easily be made sate and wholesome by slicing it into three or four pieces and boiling it in water tor 10 minutes. If those in charge of dogs do not wish to carry out this simple boiling process they should discaiu the offal altogether as food for dogs,, throw it in the fire, and feed their dogs on other parts of the sheeps’ carcase. (2) Dose dogs regularly every tnree months with the worm-destroying tablets supplied with full instructions to all owners each year at the time ot dog registration. * (3) Tn patting or fondling dogs, handling sheep, and so on, remember the risk of contaminated hands and the pqssibilitv, specially in children, of the hydatid eggs being transferred from hands to mouth. Make a practice of washing the hands belore meals. (4) Foodstuffs should be protected against direct pollution by dogs and indirect contamination hv flies, haltufs and other vegetables that are eaten raw should be carefully washed. (5) Hydatid eggs which reach water soon sink, and infection from this source is not very likely, but to be on the safe side water for drinking purposes should be boiled or filtered.