With an outbreak of the highly contagious disease foot and mouth disease in Bali, the Federal Government has stepped up biosecurity measures.
The measures aim to keep the disease foot out of Australia.
It affects cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
Kevin Hogan MP said it was an exceptionally serious and significant biosecurity threat to our livestock and meat processing industries.
“Foot and mouth disease has not been detected in Australia for more than 100 years,” he said.
The Federal Government has put extra signage at airports and put detection dogs at some airports.
“This is fine but more needs to be done now,” Mr Hogan said.
Mr Hogan wants to see disinfectant footbaths introduced at airports as the disease is often carried on footwear.
To prevent an outbreak in Australia, biosecurity officers are boarding planes on arrival and playing a new biosecurity message on all inbound flights from Indonesia, reinforcing Australia’s strict biosecurity measures and providing FMD-specific advice to travellers.
Anyone working with cattle, sheep, goats or pigs is urged to be aware of the signs of FMD – blisters on the mouth and drooling or limping animals – and report any symptoms to their vet or Australia’s Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Shoes and clothing can carry the disease for weeks if not thoroughly cleaned.
Foot and mouth disease in humans is extremely rare and is not serious.
It is not related to the similarly named hand, foot and mouth disease that can be very unpleasant for children.
