‘Potentially fatal’ fox disease claim a scare tactic

DICK POWER’S letter (July 30) is an effort by an anti-fieldsport enthusiast to create a scare that does not exist.

Mr Power states that because foxhounds kill foxes, they may be infected with trichinella, and that brings the parasite “closer to mankind”. He fails to say the only way a human can be infected with trichinella is by eating undercooked meat which contains the larvae.

Trichinella is traditionally associated with pigs and an eastern European tradition for eating uncooked meat which has been preserved in salt.