MPI director readiness and response Geoff Gwyn, who was in Ashburton recently, said Mid Canterbury farmers were understandably concerned.
The district had some ''quite high numbers'' with six properties confirmed infected with M.bovis, 11 properties under restricted placement and 26 properties under notice of direction.
''Ashburton is a tight community and [M.bovis] is a major concern for the farm community.''
However, there was a lot of leadership in the district who wanted to help at a local level, which was encouraging, he said.
''The best people to support the community are people in the community,'' he said.
''We need to play with our strengths and talk to each other.
''Not one of us can do it on our own.''
Mr Gwyn said MPI was working with the farmers who had M.bovis on the cull of their herds.
This was being managed around individual farms and the risks around calving and the transport of animals.
$14.1million had been paid nationally for 81 claims (in either full or part payments).
In total, 234 claims had been received, with an assessed total value of $21million.
Three previously infected properties had been given the all clear to return to business.
The farms, from around the South Island, had been depopulated and decontaminated, and had completed their 60-day stand-down period.
The total number of infected farms nationally was now 39, comprising 19 beef farms, 17 dairy farms and three lifestyle properties.
With the second round of bulk milk testing due to begin, Mr Gwyn was ''cautiously optimistic we'll find more in small numbers; [we don't want] large numbers''.
Continued testing would help establish links to ensure eradication.
Mr Gwyn said slaughterhouse testing was planned, targeting bobby calves, and early next year the testing of weaners.
''It's not getting bigger, so indications are positive,'' he said.
However, it was important not to become complacent about Nait and farm biosecurity.
''Keep it up,'' he said.
