Fiji cattle breeding programme on hold as brucellosis re-emerge

Fiji's Department of Primary Industries has put an important cattle breeding programme on hold following a resurgence of the bacterial disease brucellosis.

According to media reports, the highly contagious infection has been detected in a herd of cattle in the province of Tailevu, on the main island of Viti Levu, after a 10-year absence.

It is reported that it has the potential to cause spontaneous abortion in cattle, and can prove debilitating if passed on to humans who come into contact with the animals or un-sanitised milk products.

Principal veterinarian with Fiji's Department of Primary Industries, Dr Robin Achari said they have recalled hundreds of litres of milk for pasteurisation.

Achari also said that up to 250 cattle will now be slaughtered in an attempt to curb the spread of the bacteria.