State’s officials outline battle plans for possible outbreak of deadly disease

Hellish scenes could play out in Australia if a devastating disease breaks out, with officials outlining their battle plans.

A foot and mouth disease outbreak in Australia would mean the slaughtering and burning of countless cows and a national emergency being declared, officials have warned.

Plans have been made for where to burn the livestock, away from population centres, NSW officials said on Monday as they outlined the state’s preparations for a possible outbreak of the devastating livestock disease.

The recent spread of the highly contagious animal virus to Indonesia has alarmed Australia and prompted a range of new security measures for returning travellers.

When foot and mouth disease spread in Europe in 2001, piles of cows burned. Picture: AP / Michel Spingler

The animal industry is on high alert as well, aware any spread of foot and mouth disease would likely necessitate mass slaughter of animals and cost as much as $80bn nationwide in a single year.

“The moment we get a detection, it’s a national response,” Department of Primary Industries director general Scott Hansen told a budget estimates hearing.

“If it’s a NSW detection, every other state and jurisdiction would have arrangements and plans in place to draw upon their veterinary expertise and capability to flood the state with the numbers we need.

Australia’s livestock industry is holding its breath. Picture: Emma Brasier

“We would have immediate access to the state emergency control centre and see comprehensive support … bringing the resources together from all (sections) of the NSW government and all the private providers.”

When foot and mouth disease was detected in the United Kingdom in 2001, 6 million cows and sheep were killed to stop the spread.

Hellish scenes of piles of burning cows in English fields became some of the lasting images from the crisis.

Similar scenes would play out in regional NSW if the disease entered the state.

Officials have already made plans for where the burning and killing would happen.

Travellers are subject to extra-tough biosecurity measures to prevent the spread. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“You need to work out where things would happen, and how, without interfering with water aquifers,” said Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders, referring to groundwater deposits.

“(It needs to be done) without being close to large population areas … I think the UK example have given a bit of clarity around what did and didn’t work, in their cases.”

State employees have already carried out mass killings of wild pigs, in efforts which could contribute to slowing the spread of foot and mouth disease, should an outbreak occur; studies have indicated feral pigs could spread foot and mouth disease.

So far this year 30,000 wild pigs have been killed and in the 18 months before that, 40,000 more were slaughtered, the officials said.