Status of Federal-State Cooperative Tuberculosis Eradication

¹ Chief, Tuberculosis Eradication Section, Animal Disease Eradication Division, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

1. The progress that has been made in bovine tuberculosis eradication has lead to complacency and a general feeling that the disease has been eradicated. We should revitalize our efforts to eradicate tuberculosis. Our past victories should serve to show that we can reach our goal of complete eradication.

2. A majority (69 per cent) of the tuberculosis reactors found during the period 1917-1957 inclusive came from nine States. During the past three years (1955-1957 inclusive) the same nine States yielded 75 per cent of the total reactors.

3. Five fundamental points must be given special attention. They are:

1. Reaffirm our confidence in the tuberculin test, which when properly applied and interpreted is recognized as one of the most dependable disease detection tests we have. All too frequently, undue concern is expressed because some animals that react to the tuberculin test do not show up with gross lesions of tuberculosis on post-mortem inspection. The best scientific evidence and observations of millions of carcasses clearly show that the tuberculin test is more reliable than the customary post-mortem examination as a means of detecting tuberculosis.

2. We must give close attention to the proper quarantine of infected herds, and make certain that no known infected or known-exposed animal is the cause of spreading the disease.

3. We must assure ourselves that all premises that have harbored tuberculous animals are properly cleaned and disinfected under vigilant supervision.

4. We have had tremendous success in locating many centers of infection as a result of epizootiological investigations. Periodic testing alone is not enough. We must trace to their herds of origin all animals that show lesions of tuberculosis on regular kill. We must determine the origin of animals that react to tuberculin tests, and we must follow-up on exposed animals removed from infected herds. More effort should be directed toward the eradication of tuberculosis in poultry and swine.

5. We must redistribute funds to pursue a more concentrated programs in those States where most of the infected animals are now being found.