Foot-and-mouth disease is upon us. At present, it is spreading in livestock in Bali and all over Indonesia. If he arrived in Australia, the consequences would be devastating.
In the worst case, billions would have to be spent on a national response and dozens of seriously ill cattle, sheep, pigs and goats could be culled.
Overnight, Australia’s international cattle markets would shut down.
An outbreak could wipe out more than $80 billion from the national economy. Livelihoods across the country would be threatened.
If that sounds like a problem to be dealt with by Australian farmers alone, it’s not. It is highly likely that foot and mouth disease could be introduced and spread unsuspectingly throughout Australia by members of the public.
Over the past two years of the pandemic, many Australians have taken pride in the steps they have taken to “stop the spread” of COVID-19.
Now members of the public weary of restrictions again have a role to play in avoiding becoming part of the spread of a highly infectious disease.
The Australian government, the livestock industry and members of the biosecurity and scientific community are imploring Australians to take the risk seriously and avoid becoming part of the foot and mouth disease problem.
Warning: This story contains images that some readers may find offensive.
Are you going to Bali?
Foot-and-mouth disease does not exist in Australia. This is the provisional good news.
It’s been 150 years since he’s been here, but he’s never been closer.
With increased international travel and many Australians’ short-term winter vacation plans in full swing, one of the biggest dangers is the return of travelers bringing foot-and-mouth disease to the country from Bali.
Foot-and-mouth disease is spread between animals through their breath, through contact with the blisters, and through infected milk, semen, faeces, and urine.
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It can also live on vehicle tires and can be carried on clothing and especially shoes.
Travelers do not need to have visited rural or agricultural areas to run the risk of coming into contact with foot-and-mouth disease. The incubation period of the disease is between 2 and 14 days, which means that it can survive on a pair of shoes for fifteen days.
Such is the severity of the threat that there are growing calls to ban travel between Bali and Australia – a move Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has brushed aside.
Instead, the Australian government announced a series of new measures this week, including the presence of a biosecurity officer on every flight entering Australia from Indonesia.
A message will be broadcast on planes specific to the threat of foot-and-mouth disease, while biosecurity surveillance will be reinforced at airports, including more detector dogs.
Other measures should be announced in the coming days.
Flip-flops debate on footbaths
Nationals leader David Littleproud is among those asking travelers returning from Indonesia to use foot baths with disinfectant at airports.
Minister Watt said footbaths would not be introduced at this stage – partly because passengers could take multiple pairs of shoes with them on holiday, and partly because of the footwear choices of travelers in Bali.
“The chemicals in footbaths are quite harmful to people if they come into contact with their skin. »
The minister said other options such as disinfectant mats were being considered.
Beyond any border measures, travelers are advised to take additional precautions before re-entering Australia from Indonesia.
Washing and scrubbing shoes and clothing with disinfectant before boarding a flight is an effective method to reduce the risk of spreading disease.
Can I contract foot-and-mouth disease?
Unlike hand-foot-mouth disease which can be extremely unpleasant for children, the risk of foot-and-mouth disease in humans is extremely rare and does not lead to serious illness.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, it is possible for humans to carry the virus in their noses for up to 24 hours, which can lead to further infection in animals.
However, the department assures travelers that foot-and-mouth disease is not transmitted to humans through meat.
If a person ate a burger in Bali made from a cow infected with foot-and-mouth disease, they would not contract the disease.
What about travel from other countries?
Foot-and-mouth disease is thought to have spread to Indonesia via goats smuggled in from Malaysia.
The Australian government remains focused on the specific threat of the disease arriving in Australia from Indonesia and is working with local authorities to limit the spread.
There are currently no foot-and-mouth disease issues for travelers arriving in Australia from other countries.
If the disease spreads internationally – or arrives here – Australians could quickly face a changed set of business and travel circumstances.
honesty at the border
As surveillance and biosecurity measures continue to be tightened, returning travelers – especially those from Indonesia – are urged to take incoming passenger cards seriously.
She implored travelers to be honest about where they had been and what kind of contact or exposure they might have had with livestock.
“We need to make sure people are aware that [FMD] is so easy to transport and if they have been in contact with any animal they have to declare it,” she said.
“You don’t have to have been on a farm to be a carrier of foot-and-mouth disease. You can be exposed through any type of contact with a cow or cloven-legged animal of any kind, or walking through animal manure on the street.
“You could be the carrier. You could be the one bringing it to Australia. »
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