CARRIED BY BIRDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19887, 15 March 1939, Page 12

CARRIED BY BIRDS

FOOT-AND-MOUTH SCOURGE FROM AFRICA LONDON, Feb. 1. An epidemic starting in Africa and brought to England by migrating birds caused the worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 14 years when it struck here between October. 1037, and last March. Mr. Daniel Cabot, chief veterinary officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, in his annual report made public yesterday, lists 2GB outbreaks in 20 counties during the five-month period. The epidemic originated in Northern Africa, Mr. Cabot, says, and was introduced into France in June, 1937, by infected animals. For the introduction of the epidemic into England the chief veterinary officer blames a mass migration of birds from the Continent to our eastern and southern shores when the disease was at its height in France, Compensation In nine months France had 214,000 outbreaks, Belgium nearly 80,000, Germany more than 90,000. In some parts of the Continent drastic restrictions were imposed even on the freedom of movement of persons. Although the Ministry of Agriculture’s slaughter policy was criticised during the epidemic, Mr. Cabot defends it as the only proved means of eradicating the disease.

Compensation paid for slaughtered animals, he estimates, is equivalent to a premium of Is 4|d per £IOO to insure this country against the disease becoming endemic. The animals slaughtered in outbreaks every year do not represent more than live in 10,000 cattle, two in 10,000 sheep, and five in 10,000 pigs.