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BY MADURA MCCORMACK
Queensland to be hit hardest with foot and mouth disease
With nearly half of Australia's 23.5m cattle herd in Queensland, the state would be the hardest hit if there was a widespread outbreak of the industry-destroying foot and mouth disease
Biosecurity stepped up
Travellers entering Queensland’s international airports from Indonesia will be made to step through decontamination mats in an attempt to prevent an incursion of the disease.
Citric-acid foot mats designed to dislodge FMD particles from the shoes of travellers, have arrived at Cairns and Brisbane airports and will be operational from this week.
What happens if FMD gets in?
A snap lockdown on the nation’s livestock will be implemented for 72 hours if the disease is detected on Australian soil, as the industry warns the reputational damage will last for years if it is present.
AgForce boss Mike Guerin said Australia remained disease-free right now. If the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan is enacted, it is only applied to FMD-susceptible animals not to products like beef and pork.
Will borders shut?
The agriculture industry is continuing to urge against shutting borders at this stage, instead calling for vigilance from farmers and tighter airport and biosecurity measures.
What’s at stake?
FMD is highly contagious, affects cloven-hoofed animals and can be carried by people on their shoes, clothes, even noses. Experts say it would deliver an $80 billion hit to the economy if it gets in.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the “greater risk” of FMD getting into Australia was via incorrectly or illegally labelled meat products from overseas, rather than travellers.
Cattle Council of Australia president Lloyd Hick said the risk level would likely move to inspections of every bit of luggage arriving from Indonesia at some stage.
Mr Hick said the disease, if it got to Australia, would “be very hard for the industry to get a hold of” – leading to “severe” economic losses.
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PRODUCER: VEATHIKA JAIN																											

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/web-stories/free/the-courier-mail/queensland-to-be-hit-hardest-with-foot-and-mouth-disease