MYSTERIOUS DISEASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19241, 5 February 1937, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS DISEASE

MANY CATTLE AFFECTED AUST RALLAN OUTBREAK THREE-DAY SICKNESS (Elec. Tnl. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY, Feb. 4. A mysterious disease among the herds of the north coast of New Sbnth Utiles, the “three day sickness.” is assuming alarming proportions. The stock inspector tit. Grafton reports that the herds are “riddled” with it, but the mortality is low.

A report from Casino states that the cows go dry for over a week and thus thousands of gallons of milk are lost. The Government's officers describe the ailment as an ephemeral fever and advise providing plenty of shade and water for the animals affected.

The sickness was first, noted, hut not accurately diagnosed, in the north of Western Australia, ft spread south to the limits of the western State, and eastward, through the Northern Territory into Queensland. At, that 'stage it was diagnosed bv Professor Scddon, of Queensland University, as Rhodesian fever or throo-dav sickness, which is common to South Africa and Java. From the Gulf country cattle it spread to the Atherton Tableland, where there was a very high incidence of infection, up to 80 per cent of the herds contracting it.

From the coast of North Queensland, it extended northwards and southwards, and at the same time appeared in the west. It is reported that 80 per cent of the cattle in the Thnrgomindah district, nrd suffering from it. Many areas in the south-eastern corner of thd State now report infection. There have been slight, relapses on the Atherton Tableland and in-the Gulf country, and. although the disease has swept over the whole of the State, mortality has been low. Veterinary surgeons are amazed at the great distances separating known centres of infection and the new outbreaks. The cause of three-dav sickness is tint definitely known, although it, has been established that it is of an infectious nature, and typical cases have boon produced experimentally by inoculation of blood from a sick' into a healthy animal. This Would indicate that, the causal organism is present in the blood of the sick beast, and that it may he transmitted by blond-sucking Hies or other insects.

It is not possible to confine the infection to any specified area hv quarantine measures.

The onset of the disease is marked by fever, which is followed hv muscular stiffness and lameness. Provided the sick animals are well cared for, mortality is ,-erv low.