17 January 2012

Spreading of diseased possums condemned

Following unconfirmed reports of possums showing signs of ‘wobbly possum disease’ in Northland, the Animal Health Board (AHB) is warning people not to spread the introduced pest around the region.

“Moving any wild animals into new areas is extremely irresponsible,” said Northern North Island Regional Co-ordinator Frank Pavitt.

“Not only could you be circulating one infectious virus – wobbly possum disease – in an attempt to control the pests’ population, you may also expose an area to bovine TB that was previously free of the disease,” said Mr Pavitt.

Previous wild animal surveys have given the AHB confidence that possums in the region are currently free of TB.

To ensure that remains the case, wild animals must not be moved around greater Northland, or introduced from other regions of New Zealand.

If bovine TB was present in any of these animals, their movement creates a greater risk of re-introducing the disease and spreading it throughout the far north.

While possums and ferrets can harbour and spread bovine TB, wild pigs and deer may also carry the disease and pass it to possums and ferrets.

When these possums or ferrets come into contact with livestock, there is a high chance they will pass TB to cattle and deer.

“Even in TB-free areas, we need hunters and farmers to continue disposing of animal carcasses correctly. They should burn or bury the animal or risk passing TB, if it is present, on to scavenging wildlife” said Mr Pavitt.

For more information on the correct disposal of wild animal carcasses, please visit www.tbfree.org.nz

Additional information about wobbly possum disease
Wobbly possum symptoms include a lack of co-ordination, head tremors, daytime feeding and blindness. Over a period of six weeks, the possum becomes weak, sleeps on the ground and loses interest in its surroundings. The disease is transmitted through animal to animal contact and is usually fatal to possums.

ENDS

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