African swine fever multiplying on Australia’s doorstep

Yet another outbreak of African swine fever — which is devastating pig herds across Asia — has been detected, perilously close to Australian shores.

Veterinary department workers in Saxony, Germany, recover a dead boar this month during an drill aimed at preparing officials for a possible outbreak of African swine fever. Picture: AFP

AFRICAN swine fever continues to spread just hours by air from Australia, with the disease officially detected in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

The federal agricultural department confirmed today the Indonesian Government had detected the disease, and were investigating pig deaths in other provinces.

It comes after the Federal Government last week announced $66.6 million in funding to boost Australian biosecurity.

Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie called the news concerning due to how close Australia is to Indonesia and its popularity as a tourist destination.

About 188 flights a week travel from Indonesia into Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin.

“African swine fever kills about 80 per cent of the pigs it infects, there’s no cure and no vaccine, and it’s not present in Australia,” Ms McKenzie said.

“Bali is a favourite holiday destination for Australians and it’s also a region with a lot of pigs.”

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Ms McKenzie said the risk status of flights from Indonesia had been raised, with increased screening, interventions, and scrutiny of travellers.

“I’d appeal to anyone travelling between Australia and Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia to be extra diligent about declaring what they’re bringing back in — and to clean shoes and any other outdoor equipment,” Ms McKenzie said.

“This virus is exceptionally hardy and can live in frozen meat for up to two years and in things like blood for six years. It can be spread by people going into an affected area and taking the virus out on their shoes, or through pigs eating scraps that contain affected product.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach to people who lie about what they have in their luggage and we’ve refused entry to Australia for six people caught with biosecurity risk material.”

People found with biosecurity risk material could be ordered to pay up to $420,000 and sentenced up to 10 years in jail.

About 32 tonnes of pork has been seized from air travellers, with recent testing revealing about 50 per cent of seized product contained African swine fever.