Update on emergency animal diseases
17 August 2022
Foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease update
Dear industry stakeholder,
Welcome to our regular foot-and-mouth (FMD) and lumpy skin diseases (LSD) email update. If you have not already signed up to receive these updates, please register here.
We’ve been undertaking significant stakeholder engagement to raise awareness of FMD and LSD and how to prepare to protect Australia from this disease. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions we’ve received.
How can I better protect my farm and livestock?
A number of resources are available to help livestock owners increase biosecurity measures on their farms.
Footbaths may be considered as an additional measure to reduce the likelihood of introducing diseases onto your farm. For more information on how to make and use a footbath visit Farm biosecurity - make your own footbath.
Remember, footbaths can be part of an effective biosecurity plan but are insufficient on their own. To protect farm biosecurity, producers should address all farm biosecurity risk factors that apply to their farms.
What is pig swill and why is it important?
The most likely way that FMD could enter Australia is by the illegal importation of meat and dairy products from an FMD infected country, which can carry FMD disease virus, and the subsequent feeding of those products to pigs.
The act of feeding food scraps or food waste that contains meat or has been in contact with meat to pigs is termed prohibited pig feed (or swill) and is illegal in Australia. See the prohibited pig feed page for more information on what and what not to feed pigs.
Pigs are highly susceptible to FMD and can become infected if they eat products carrying the virus. Once infected, pigs produce large quantities of virus, which can spread to other livestock.
All Western Australians are asked to report any suspicious pig feeding practices to your local DPIRD vet or livestock biosecurity officer - see the webpage Livestock Biosecurity contacts for your nearest office.
Can feral animals spread FMD?
Australia has a number of feral animal species that are susceptible to FMD. These include cattle, water buffalo, sheep, deer, pigs, goats and camels.
Although some feral animal populations have a wide geographical distribution, most exist at lower densities than domestic livestock. Population density is one factor that influences spread of FMD in a population.
A 2013 report commissioned by Wildlife Health Australia, Australia’s coordinating body for wildlife health, concluded that feral animals are unlikely to play a significant role in maintaining and spreading FMD in Australia. The only exception is the water buffalo, due to the potential for individuals to become long-term carriers of the disease.
An Australian disease modelling study, published in 2015, suggests that if FMD is controlled in domestic livestock, it is likely to die out in feral pig populations without specific disease control measures being applied to feral pigs.
This is likely to apply to most other feral animal hosts and has been the case for successful control of outbreaks in other FMD-free countries.
Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) program continues to undertake awareness-raising activities and surveillance for emergency animal diseases such as FMD in feral animal populations in northern areas to help detect any disease outbreaks as early as possible.
Disease control strategies in feral animal populations would be determined based on the specific circumstances of an outbreak, guided by the Wild Animal Response Strategy Ausvetplan manual. This may include preventing contact between feral and domestic animals, or feral animal population reduction under certain conditions. However, some methods for population reduction can lead to dispersal of surviving animals, which may spread disease to other locations. It is not possible to completely eradicate feral animals across their entire range.
What can producers do?
As part of a producer's biosecurity plan, livestock producers should put measures in place, where possible, to prevent feral animals coming into contact with their stock. This could include making sure boundary fences are in good order and developing a wild and feral animal control program.
The WA Government invests in feral animal control by undertaking research and development into best practice control methods, communication and extension, and supporting landholders to undertake coordinated control activities through community groups such as Recognised Biosecurity Groups. All landholders have a legal obligation to control declared pests, such as feral pigs, on their property.
The WA Government forecasts in 2022/23 that just over $6 million in combined funds, will be raised from the declared pest rate and matched by the State, for the control of declared pests.
How can I learn more about FMD?
For up-to-date information about these diseases and links to useful online resources, please visit DPIRD’s Emergency Animal Disease Hub webpage.
DPIRD staff will be at the following events:
- DPIRD foot-and-mouth disease preparedness information forum - Katanning: Friday 19 August, 2pm to 4pm - register Katanning
- DPIRD foot-and-mouth disease preparedness information forum - Dandaragan: Tuesday 23 August, 2pm to 4pm - register Dandaragan
- Dowerin Machinery Field Day: 24-25 August – visit website
- Newdegate Machinery Field Day: 7-8 September – visit website
Further information
Resources from DPIRD:
- Emergency Animal Disease Hub - foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin diseases - view
- Foot-and-mouth disease: prevention and preparedness - view
- Lumpy skin disease: prevention and preparedness - view
- Livestock ownership, identification and movement in WA - view
- Farm visitor contractor guide to biosecurity - view
- Regular updates via email - if not already receiving this email - register here
Other government resources:
- Engagement Hub - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, QLD - view
- FMD National Outlook - Australian Government - view
- Lumpy Skin Disease - Australian Government - view
Yours sincerely,
Dr Bruce Mullan
FMD and LSD Preparedness Coordinator
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Dr Michelle Rodan
Chief Veterinary Officer
Western Australia
Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 2022
