14 June 2001 Media Statement
Exotic disease response
New Zealand's exotic disease response system was implemented today after the report of a potential disease outbreak in
King Country.
Acting Biosecurity Minister Marian Hobbs said the Government took the report extremely seriously and measures to combat
any potential disease spread had been implemented immediately.
Examination by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry-contracted vets at both the Universal Beef Packers' Te Kuiti
meatworks and the Taihape farm where the affected animal came from showed no evidence of infectious disease. In the
absence of any infection, it is likely the healing wounds seen on a single animal were the result of trauma or the
animal eating a caustic substance.
Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Jim Sutton, speaking from China, said he was "tremendously relieved" that the
animal had no disease and that the exotic disease response system had worked well.
"I express my thanks to those responsible members of the media who heard about the response but held off till
confirmation, so as not to needlessly panic people."
ENDS