Riverina farmers ‘nervous’ of a potential foot and mouth disease outbreak

Riverina farmers are calling for “urgent action” to prevent an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Australia, saying it would have a devastating impact on their livelihoods.

Riverina farmers are calling for “urgent action” as the threat of foot and mouth disease intensifies.

Farmers across the region are “nervous” according to Wagga Wagga District Branch Chair of the NSW Farmers Association Alan Browne.

“We are very deeply concerned by the spread in Indonesia and especially in Bali which is making us nervous as farmers,” Mr Browne said.

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious virus that affects all cloven hoofed animals including cattle, pigs and sheep, causing abscesses and ulcers to the mouth and foot that stops animals eating and walking.

A widespread outbreak could pose an $80 billion threat to Australia’s economy. Picture: NCA NewsWire

A widespread outbreak could pose an $80 billion threat to Australia’s economy, with disastrous consequences for farmers right down to meat exporters if infection was detected among Australian livestock.

Indonesia notified the world of an FMD outbreak in May and now has more than 400,000 cases across 22 of its provinces, with at least 200 cases in Bali.

On July 20, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt told media that viral fragments of foot and mouth disease were detected in meat goods that came into Australia recently from Indonesia and China.

Mr Watt said the fragments, which are not the same as the live virus, do not pose a threat to human health and that Australia remained free from FMD.

Calls to shut Australia’s borders with Indonesia have so far been rejected by the government, which has put extra biosecurity measures in place.

Mr Browne praised the Albanese Government’s response to the threat, and said the cooperation with Indonesia had helped in halting the spread of the virus.

“The new Labor Government has been great in helping the Indonesians in trying to mitigate the disease in Bali, especially putting in strong border controls,” he said.

But he said farmers would like to see even more action taken, including adequate checking of passengers arriving from Indonesia and other countries that may be affected by the disease.

Australians should also be made better aware of the dangers and precautions which needed to be taken when travelling to a country with FMD cases, he said.

If there was an outbreak in Australia, Mr Browne stressed, it would have major consequences on the farming industry and could see a standstill of the export meat market for 12 months.

“It will have dire consequences not just for the farmers but also will vaporise the sellers and vendors and agents in the industry because once it comes it will cause a standstill in the meat market, not just cattle,” he said.

However Ian Locke, from Wirruna Poll Hereford Stud in Holbrook, said while FMD infection was possible he called the threat from Bali “an over-reaction” as the virus had been reported in other countries previously.

“FMD has the potential to be devastating for livestocks but I think it is a bit of an over-reaction because before Bali we have seen traces of FMD around from other countries,” Mr Locke said.

Ian Locke from Wirruna Poll Hereford Stud in Holbrook said FMD would be devastating for livestock. Picture: Supplied

He said that many farmers across Australia, including in the Riverina, were just waiting for the worst case scenario to come.

“We are in a holding pattern currently and if it comes to Australia the export market will have to shut down and it will affect producers in the Riverina,” he said.

He said the tracking technology in cattle would help if an outbreak did occur, by limiting the spread to one property.

“We have a electronic tagging system for all animals to trace their movements and that will help limit infection if it does come,” he said.

Liz Ferguson urged any farmer with livestock suffering from illness of any kind to contact the Emergency Animal Disease Watch hotline on 1800 675 888. Picture: Supplied

Liz Ferguson, head of Riverina veterinary Local Land Services, said precautions were in place if FMD comes to the Riverina.

“So there is a system in place of any resurgence of the disease which happens by contacting the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and chief veterinary officer, that would set off a series of events of getting a diagnosis as quickly as possible under Australia vet government services and there is an industry agreement to make sure there is a livestock standstill for 72 hours in case of a infection,” Ms Ferguson said.

She said if there was an outbreak, a vaccination strategy would be planned out.

“The vaccination program would be based on a ring system and the cattle that are not infected will be vaccinated and quarantined while the infected herd is placed in another section,” she said.

Late last week the member for the Riverina and Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Michael McCormack, called for the Federal Government to put more control measures in place for those travelling to and from Indonesia, particularly Bali.

“Foot and Mouth Disease has not been in our country for 130 years and to have two instances of this devastating disease detected on our shores is shocking,” Mr McCormack said.

Member for the Riverina Michael McCormack wants more action on FMD. Picture Darren Leigh Roberts

“Many Riverina farmers have told me, asked me and implored the government to stop all travel to and from Bali.

“Now I do not necessarily disagree with that position, but I do think the government has a responsibility to seriously consider all options to prevent an FMD outbreak on our shores.”

Last week Minister Watt announced incoming travellers would be obliged to wipe their shoes on foot mats containing a citric acid solution to break down any contaminated soil particles – or even to leave their shoes or boots behind if they were muddy.

“There are no silver bullets for biosecurity. There is no one measure that works on its own,” he said.

“We all have a part to play in protecting Australia from pests and diseases. It’s vital we all do everything we can to protect our livestock industry.”

Mr Watt said the new rules would apply to all flights from Indonesia and for a trial period of up to three months.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt addresses media about the current threat of foot and mouth disease in Australian cattle. Picture: NCA NewsWire, Sarah Marshall

Meantime Ms Ferguson urged any farmer with livestock suffering from illness of any kind to contact the Emergency Animal Disease Watch hotline on 1800 675 888.