TheVeterinarian Funding for world-first malaria test in East Asia

from The Veterinarian Magazine March 2023

No.1

HECS debt forgiveness needed to aid industry

Rural veterinary business Apiam is calling for HECS forgiveness to ease pressure on workforce shortages.

Apiam Managing Director Chris Richards told The Veterinarian that it is time the government took rural veterinary workforce shortages as seriously as those in health and teaching.

“The ruralveterinary workforce shortages are not going anywhere as we compete with not only the metro centres but overseas as well,” he said.

“Demand for veterinary services in the regions is booming, largely due to rising population, as well as the growing ‘humanisation’ of pets.”

To contend with the growth in demand, Richards said it is important to retain veterinary talent, not merely attract it.

East Asia’s goal of eradicating malaria by 2030 has been bolstered with more than $1.3 million in new funding for research to develop and deploy a world-first diagnostic test.

Almost $1m of the funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), will be used to develop the first point-of-care rapid diagnostic test for the Plasmodium parasites which cause malaria. Further funding will assist in creation of a laboratory version of the test to be based in the Philippines, the site of recent malaria outbreaks in the East Asia region.

Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, with more than 200 million cases (and 620,000 deaths) worldwide each year. The tests will pinpoint if an individual has been infected with the Plasmodium vivax parasite, and whether they are at risk of relapsing.

Ivo Mueller, Joint Division Head of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), a world expert in the biology, epidemiology and control of P. vivax malaria, said being able to predict the chance of relapse would be a breakthrough in control of the disease.

“Malaria reinfections are the leading cause of residual transmission that continue to challenge malaria eradication efforts,” he said. “Our novel test can show whether someone has had a P. vivax infection within the last nine months. This timing is critical as most people in tropical regions are expected to relapse within nine months of a previous blood-stage infection. To page 30

“To get HECS forgiveness right, it is crucial that we instil a minimum length of time, such as fouryears, that these graduates have to complete their placements in the regions,” he said.

In a recent AVA survey, veterinary students were asked if they would consider taking a regional/rural veterinary role “within the first five years of graduation to be eligible to have part or all of your HECS debt removed?”

Despite an admittedly small sample size of around 100 students, 100 per cent of respondents said they would consider utilising such a program.

■ SAM WORRAD

Live export phase out briefing attended by AVA, VALE

AVA representatives have attended Senator Murray Watt’s briefing on the phase out of live sheep exports. Watt, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, formally announced the beginning of consultation, seeking views on a transition plan from stakeholders including the AVA.

A consultation report will be published by September next year, and an expert panel (chaired by senior public servant Phillip Glyde) will provide advice to the Minister on how the phasing out of live sheep export should occur, and when the practice should cease.

“Phasing out live sheep exports by sea is a complex issue that will impact farmers, businesses, our trading partners, and the communities that participate in the trade,” Sen Watt said in a statement.

“I am also conscious that the wider Australian community is interested in the phase out, including those that want to see animal welfare maintained and improved.”

Vets Against Live Export (VALE) haswelcomed the announcement, however the group wants a rapid cessation of live export, with spokesperson Sue Foster calling for a “phase out as soon as feasibly possible.”

Foster said she anticipates the live export industry to protest the changes and cite high standards of welfare.

“It is true that Australia does have the world’s best standards, but they are regularly breached by this industry,” she said.

“Independent observers reported breaches on 75 per cent of accompanied Middle East ship voyages.”

Foster added that several common factors are unchanging on live export voyages.

“What never changes is the inherent conditions on these ships: ship movement, To page 30

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