Australians wishing to visit Bail will be subject to stringent biosecurity regulations once their return, as part of a program being promoted to stop the spread of the deadly foot-and-mouth disease throughout the nation.
The illness, which can decimate the animal sector, has been proven by Indonesian authorities to have spread to Bali and may have been brought there by the many visitors from Australia.
Australia’s officials are on high alert because it may have been carried here by returning tourists after the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture reported that it had been found in more than 60 cows across three areas in Bali.
An epidemic would result in revenue losses of $80 billion over ten years, according to recent modeling by the Federal Government’s commodities forecaster ABARES. The last FMD case in Australia was in 1872.
Dr. Ross Ainsworth, who has worked in the Australian beef business for 40 years, thinks the danger of local introduction is increasing rapidly.
From now until the herd is fully immunized, Dr. Ainsworth said, “Bali is in a tremendous danger phase. Until there is cattle immunized across Indonesia, we’re at a lot higher risk.”
According to Dr. Ainsworth, the severity of the risk justifies imposing immediate biosecurity precautions on all travelers departing from Indonesia.
“A greater focus should be paid to visitors returning to Australia, especially their footwear, until Bali is totally safeguarded by vaccination of its cow and pig populations,” he added.
“Simple and logical actions that could assist to handle the new degree of danger” seem to be additional criteria like making sure shoes are clean and stepping through a wet sponge laced with disinfection before boarding and after departing the aircraft.
FMD affects cloven-hoofed species including sheep, goats, buffalo, camels and deer.
‘Infected animals excrete virus into the air and through all secretions, including saliva,’ Dr Ainsworth added.
‘Pigs are multipliers of the virus as they excrete up to 3000 times more virus into the environment than ruminants.’
Murray Watt, the federal agriculture minister, will go to Indonesia this month as part of Australia’s efforts to stop the spread of FMD and lumpy skin disease.
It may be transferred from one animal to another, as well as via infected tools and vehicles.
Fever, despondency, decreased appetite, increased salivation, and lameness are among the symptoms.
Call the national Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline at 1800 675 888 to report any signs in livestock.