CAMEL DISEASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 48

CAMEL DISEASE.

FOUND IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA AMONG INDIAN IMPORTATIONS.

A discovery of what is a new disease as far as Australia is concerned has oeen made as the result of a bacteriological examination of a blood culture taken from 500 camels quarantined at Port Hedland. The disease is known as surra, and in tlie countries where it exists it has decimated all kinds of stock, being carried from animal to animal by suctorial flies. Dr Clelland, Go-vernment-Bacteriologist, says there is no cause for alarm. The investigations to is undertaken will include the bites jf flies responsible for the transmission jf the disease, it may be found tUat nese flies do not exist in large numbers in Australia if at all. The camels m question were brought from India three months ago, and having been the subject of litigation ever since their arrival, have been kept in quarantine. e question now arises whether animals in other parts of Australia are similarly affected. Dr Clelland says the matter affects the whole Commonwealth.