AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 16 November 06 New program to control croc chlamydia
An industry working group has pushed forward a new program to control chlamydia which has plagued the Northern Territory's crocodile population.
The latest outbreak has seen the death rate among crocodile hatchlings hit 90 per cent.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has sponsored the program to work out how to implement a new hygiene regime for crocodile farmers.
The department's vet scientist, Dr Brian Radunz, says he is lobbying for an approved antibiotic to treat a new strand of chlamydia in the crocodiles.
"There was agreement that we do have a new strain of chlamydia disease which is the first time we've found it in the Northern Territory this year," he said.
"It's very infectious and very pathogenic to the young hatchling crocodiles and we agreed that the disease can be controlled by applying very good hygiene measures.
"Any sort of old or sick crocodiles shouldn't be moved into the hatchlings area.
"People that are working with the hatchlings should have clean clothes, they should wash their hands, they should have clean shoes.
"There should be very few visitors to the farm and the ones that do have to go to the farm should have clean clothing and clean boots."
New program to control croc chlamydia