Foot and mouth disease outbreak spreads through more Indonesian provinces

A Darling Downs politican has told how foot and mouth disease has spread to 22 of Indonesia’s 34 provinces and its potential to devastate local food and fibre producers.

“Sobering advice” from Australia’s top vet shows foot and mouth disease is spreading within Indonesia as infections were reported in 22 of its 34 provinces.

The briefing has led Maranoa MP and Opposition agriculture spokesman David Littleproud to call on the federal government to release its modelling on how the outbreak would affect Australian food and fibre producers.

“The trajectory of this disease is to spread and spread quite widely,” he said.

“We asked for the advice for at what juncture the government would need to protect our borders moving forward.

National Party David Littleproud wants to see tighter border controls around foot and mouth disease. Picture: Richard Walker

“The department is not in a position to provide that to us, but we are of the belief that we have passed the precipice about when a decision needs to be made about stronger border controls for people coming in from Indonesia.”

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences projected a widespread FMD outbreak in Australia would cost producers, wholesalers and retailers about $80 billion.

A 2001 outbreak in the UK caused losses of more than $19 billion.

The disease causes blister around the mouths of affect livestock as well as drooling and limping.

The Opposition has stopped short of calling for a total travel ban because it did not have a full understanding of the problem.

“We would ask the government to provide that science,” Mr Littleproud said.

FMD doesn’t affect humans, but the virus that causes it can be carried on footwear, clothing and luggage by people coming into contact with animals, as well as soil, mud and manure in rural areas, on farms or in markets.

Mr Littleproud called on the federal government to ban travellers from Indonesia bringing organic matter and food into Australia.

“We think this would be a wise move, quickly implemented that would ease the pressure on biosecurity officers until they can provide the science about tight control around the free movement of people,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said the federal government was escalating border biosecurity measures in advance of the FMD arrival in Indonesia on returning livestock vessels.

“Since its arrival there, these measures were further stepped up inlcuding screening and increased interventions with passengers from Indonesia, and when, as expected, the disease reached Bali our biosecurity measures were again enhanced,” she said.

This included on arrival announcements and sanitation mats.

“Any decision to close the Australian border is a matter for the Australian Government,” she said.

“Travellers regularly return to Australia from countries that are affected by FMD.

“Australia has strict biosecurity protocols in place to prevent high risk materials, such as contaminated equipment or clothing, animals and animal products, being brought in by travellers who may have been exposed to diseased animals.”