STOCK IMPORTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 381, 16 November 1932, Page 2

STOCK IMPORTS

EXPERTS SAY SAFE HOW LONG WILL VIRUS' ^ LIYE OUTSIDE THE ANIMAL. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE1 Aspects of the foot-and-mouth' disease question in relation to the impor- . tation of stock were discussed at a recent meeting of the NeW Zealand Veterinary Association, which declared itself in favom? of the importatiop of necessary stock into this country. On-s point of interest is the time of the survival of the virus, which has an important be&rilig on the subject. For a number of years, extensive investigation has been carried out by a Special Research Committee in Great Britain to ascertain how long the virus will live outside the body, and in this direction much valuable information has been obtained. It was found that the ability of the virus to 'retain its capacity for infection varies considerably in accordance with the various materials with which it may come in contact. It has been shown that a wide range of material can act as a mechanical carrier of infection. English Opinion The following is an extract from the report of Dr. Andrews, chairman of the Foot-and-Mouth Committee in England, and his colleagues: "The virus only survived two or three days in blood dried on glass, iron, zinc, tile, brick or wood, but on hide leather

from a boot, or rubber from a gumboot, its life was materially prolonged up to 80 and 102 days respectively. On the last three materials the survival was exceptional, though not so long as had been found in earlier work when watery filtrates or virus was allowed to dry in bran, in which case the duration of activity was 20 weeks. On hessian, or stockinette, the materials, used for wrapping chilled or frozen carcases, blood containing virus was found active after 45 days." The virus will live for various periods on other substances with which stock may come in contact, such as hay, straw, bedding, soil, etc. It will therefore be seen that there is a wide range of materials by which' the contaffion may be carried. Still by far the

most frequent source of infection is contact with affected animals. Dead and Alive In an animal suffering from the disease al'l the tissues and fluids of the body are highly infective, and if •an animal is slaughtered while under the influence of the disease the tissues of the body, especially the bone mar.row, will retain virulence for a long period after the animal has been slaughtered "> This is found to hold good even when the carcase is frozen or pickled If, however, an animal is allowed to recover from the disease it is found that an animal quickly disinfects itself, and it is claimed that four or five days after the disease has run its course an animal ceases to be infective. These observations have been

confirmed m the fourth progress report now to hand from the Research Committee in England. Quarantine Regulations As against this some Continental observers in countries where foot-and-mouth disease is widespread have asserted that cattle that have"passed through an attack do not all rid themselves of the virus so readily, and that a few remain infectious for months, but whether such persistent carriers of the virus occur has not yet been finally settled. Even if carriers should exist after having suffered from the disease it does not materially affect the position°with regard to the importation of stock from Great Britain, says a circular issued by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand. The Act of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries insists on the slaughter of all stock suffering from tbe disease, not only those that are affected, but also those that are or have been in contact, so th'at under these conditions carriers may be expected.to be non-existent. In adrtion to this, all stock on farms for a radius of 15 miles are quarantined until ail infection has disappeared. The methods of quarantine were also fully discussed by the meeting. The necessity for the introduction of fresh blood of certain breeds into New Zealand was generally recognised by the members of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. Many considered that those people who were inclined to refuse .vdmittance of stock were not regarding both British and New Zealand quarantine regulations or had misinterpreted them.