Hydatids control era at an end

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 639, 4 June 1996, Page 3

Hydatids control era at an end

An era ends with the last of scheduled six-weekly dosing by the Ruapehu District Council last month. "Six-weekly dosing was first introduced in 1972 for the control of true hydatids," said hydatids control officer Monty Hickey. In 1979 the drug Droncit was produced and dosing then involved the treatment of sheep measles and false hydatids in addition to true hydatids. In the 80' s the policy changed and urban dogs were only dosed six monthly. A further change in 1 990 meant dosing was confined to dogs kept on properties where home killing was practised but not in a dog-proof killing facility.

This reduced the number of rural dogs being dosed from around 3500 to 900. With the purchase or construction of new killing facilities the number dropped further to the present figure of 350. "With the repealing of the Dog Control and Hydatids Act 1982 at the end Of June next, the district council will no longer be involved with the control of hydatids and sheep measles," explained Mr Hickey, "We will then operate under the Dog Control Act 1996 which has the objects of making better provision for the care and control of dogs but makes no provision for the control of hydatids."