Number of Mycoplasma bovis infected farms rises

The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced the current number of 'active' Infected Properties (quarantined under movement restrictions) has risen from 28 to 30.

The latest Infected Properties (IP) are both in Ashburton.

MPI says all infected properties are under quarantine controls restricting the movement of stock and equipment on and off those farms to contain the disease.

The regional breakdown of total Infected Properties from the start of the response is, two in Canterbury (one active), one in Hawke's Bay, six in Ashburton, 11 in South Canterbury/North Otago (10 active), two in Middlemarch and ten in Southland.

In March MPI made the decision to cull all cattle on the initial 28 Infected Properties in New Zealand saying the cull is a critical measure to control the spread of the disease.

The depopulation process will take some weeks or months to complete and MPI says all affected farmers will be compensated for their verifiable losses.