All three properties were already part of MPI’s tracing programme and all had previously known links to the disease. One of the properties was already under surveillance and the other two were about to go under surveillance.
So far nearly 51,000 of the approximately 70,000 tests have been completed, with nearly all farms having had at least three rounds of testing out of the total programme of six rounds.
1,500 farms have completed the full programme of testing.
MPI says that it’s encouraging that bulk milk testing has so far confirmed M. bovis on three additional farms and reinforces their belief that there is only one strain of M. bovis in this incursion.
As at 2 November 2018 there are 33 properties with “active” infections – where the property has not yet been depopulated, cleaned, and had their restrictions lifted. Five of these are in the North Island with 28 in the South Island. MPI has more specific details and are providing weekly updates on their website.
The new recovery package announced in October is already starting to help farmers get back to business sooner, with the DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Compensation Assistance Team (DBCAT) helping farmers with their claims. Additional guidance to help farmers prepare their compensation claims is also being finalised.
