New TB outbreak sets back control programme

Hopes for reducing bovine tuberculosis to about seven cattle herds in New Zealand by 2013 have been set back after another outbreak in Canterbury.

The area had been about to be re-designated as free of infection.

"This occurrence casts a shadow over us doing that," said Agriquality district disease control manager Mark Neill. "We can't do that until we confirm the disease was brought in from outside."

Farmers fear that if New Zealand does not reduce TB levels to below 0.2 per cent of herds by 2013, European rivals are likely to try to have the disease used as a non-tariff trade barrier to NZ meat and dairy exports.

Environment Canterbury's bovine TB manager, Kevin Gallagher, said the cost of the operation following the latest find on Banks Peninsula could be around $50,000, but it would not blow the budget.

But Mr Neill said the cost of eradicating TB from the infected deer herd could jeopardise the 2013 goal.

If the TB virus was endemic in feral pest populations such as possums and ferrets, it meant a costly operation would be required to kill whichever species was carrying the disease.

Mr Neill said there were signs the TB was brought in with animals from high-risk areas, which would be a relief for Agriquality workers because the cattle could be removed.

"If we cannot rule out the fact that this infection has come in with cattle from an infected area there will be considerable cost."

The disease crosses from wildlife to stock more easily than from stock to wildlife. If only the stock are infected, the possible carriers or "vectors" such as possums and ferrets are unlikely to be carrying the disease.

- NZPA