Swine fever creeps closer to Australia

A virus that could threaten Australia’s pork industry is creeping closer to our shores.

Hogs look on from their pen at a pig farm in Denpasar, Indonesia's Bali island on February 5, 2020. - Hundreds of pigs have died from African swine fever in Bali, marking the Indonesian holiday island's first recorded outbreak, authorities said February 5, after the illness claimed some 30,000 hogs in Sumatra. (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP)

THE spread of African swine fever has crept closer to Australian shores after it was confirmed today the virus has been detected in Papua New Guinea.

In a statement released by Australian Pork, Papua New Guinea officials confirmed samples from Southern Highlands pigs were sent to Australia and returned positive for ASF, which has killed hundreds of pigs in Papua New Guinea.

Australian Pork chief executive Margo Andrae said the detection of ASF in Papua New Guinea compounded the importance of ongoing work to prevent the spread of the virus.

“There is no cure for ASF and millions of Australian pigs would be at risk if the disease reached our country,” Andrae said.

“That would devastate pork producers and Australian fresh pork supplies and seriously jeopardise the wellbeing of the 36,000 Australians employed in our industry.

“While ASF does not pose human health risks, the deadly virus would absolutely devastate Australia’s pork industry if it arrived here. The potential national economic impact from an ASF incursion in Australia is estimated to be more than $2 billion.”

Papua New Guinea joins Indonesia and Timor Leste as countries close to Australia with recorded cases of ASF.

Officials in Papua New Guinea are now investigating.

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