Story: Taranaki places

Facial eczema monitoring

Facial eczema monitoring

First-time visitors to Taranaki are sometimes a little alarmed by the roadside facial eczema signs on the northern and southern approaches to the region. Facial eczema is a disease of grazing animals caused by toxins produced by a microscopic fungus, Pithomyces chartarum, which becomes epidemic in warm, damp conditions in late summer and early autumn. It is not harmful to humans.

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Photograph by Ron Lambert

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How to cite this page:

Ron Lambert, 'Taranaki places - Pātea', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/25924/facial-eczema-monitoring (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Ron Lambert, updated 1 Sep 2016