68 + REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Division of Veterinary Medicine
 During the year a brucellosis eradication program was initiated in
St. Thomas and St. John. As the program neared completion at the
close of the fiscal year, it appeared that these would be the first two
islands declared brucellosis free. Another decrease in anaplasmosis
was noted in St. Croix with only 25 new cases reported. A decrease
was also noted in piroplasmosis. No bovine tuberculosis has been
found or reported in the Virgin Islands. Although no cases of hog
cholera were reported in any of the Virgin Islands, 1,140 pigs on St.
Thomas and St. John were vaccinated simultaneously with hog
cholera serum and hog cholera vaccine. An alarming increase in tet-
anus was noted in St. Croix. A noted improvement in the meat
inspection program in St. Thomas was made during the past fiscal
year. A federally approved animal quarantine station was estab-
lished, six quarantine pens were fenced in, and adequate watering
facilities were provided for each pen. In addition, the entire abattoir
area was enclosed with chain link fencing. No modern processing
equipment was added, but the entire abattoir was cleaned and painted,
both inside and outside, the grounds around the building were cleared
of brush and stumps, and the terrain smoothed by bulldozing. The
abattoir is being operated as efficiently and hygenically as possible, but
with obsolete equipment. Modern equipment for efficient plant oper-
ation and disposal of waste products is of cardinal importance. The
new abattoir in St. Croix with its modern equipment will be completed
soon.