Medical Journal Warns Of Hydatids In Stock

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 11

Medical Journal Warns Of Hydatids In Stock

“The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, May 2. A strong warning to farmers and meat authorities on the hydatid disease in stock is contained in the editorial J?® latest "New Zealand Medical Journal.” “International competition in tne meat trade grows fiercer as the years pass,” it says, ‘‘and countries like Australia and the Argentine are alive to the economic advantages of producing meat from disease-free animals. New Zealand may yet be fdrced to put her house "in order.” New Zealand lagged behind overseas countries not only in the elimination of hydatid-type disease but also of infections such as tuberculosis and salmonellosis. The editorial, based on a report of the Hydatid Research Committee of the Medical Research Council, claims that hydatid disease—of both man and animal—continues to be “the most important parasitic disease in New Zealand.” In spite of the fact that the parasite’s life cycle had been known for more than 100 years and that, in this country preventive methods appeared simple, evidence pointed to “a deterioration rather than an improvement in the situation.” Offal a Tradition The tradition of feeding raw offal to dogs, so well entrenched in New Zealand farming life, held the door firmly shut against fear, logic, and common sense, and “played decisively into the parasite’s hand.” A lesson to be learned from hydatids was that legislation alone could play no effective part in controlling disease where individual co-operation was essential in the absence of an enlightened public opinion The writer comments that the feeding of raw offal to dogs was illegal, but no prosecution had ever occurred. Hydatid disease in man was notifiable, but this was frequently overlooked. “It might be thought,” adds the article, “that even although the humanistic appeal failed to awaken effective action the economic impact would have aroused public opinion. Here again the parasite wins. Hidden Loss “Although the economic loss on diseased livers alone was estimated at £1.5 million in 1956, this loss was so widely distributed and so hidden from the farmer by the present techniques of marketing that public opinion remains apathetic. “More research is clearly indicated,” says the editorial. “It is to be hoped that the Government, supported financially by the meat industry, will press on with the

research programme with the de-i-J 114e ?t’°n of bringing the nyxiatid disease under effective control.” The following incidence rates, given .by the hydatid research committee, are listed in the journal: — In the last 64 years, 847 New Zealanders have died of the disease and 5582 have been admitted to hospital. There is no evidence that the human incidence is decreasing. Sheep, cattie, and pigs are affected “to an alarming extent.” It is estimated that 100 per cent, of ewes and cows, 80 per cent of lambs, and 20 per cent, of pigs are infected with worm cysts. Cysts in Cattle Livers , According to the' committee, the tact that 10 per cent, of cattle !i, Ve m^ eachlng the British market in 1956 were found to contain ?®S?' SQate S hydatid cysts threw suspicion ‘on the whole of New aS. £” eat inspection proceNorfh a No .hope of entry to the American market was posn® ™ d , e f J 11686 cir cumstances. siiml iMo lt Yi ed for the first “me 2. 949 .. the committee had its tlng “ December, and decided to prepare a five-year reT 5 J"!®™"* Its proposals included in the journal, cover research under seven heads. . An announcement of policy on hydatids research may be expected W'thm the next few weeks, said the Minister of Health (Mr J R Hanan) when the editorial in the New Zealand Medical Journal” was referred to him.