Update on emergency animal diseases

Presence of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease in Indonesia

Dear industry stakeholder,

I'm writing to update you on the detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Indonesia and the importance of industry and government enhancing the level of biosecurity and emergency animal disease preparedness.

Indonesia confirmed an outbreak of LSD in April 2022 and then subsequently confirmed a positive detection of FMD in May 2022. There are currently 19 Indonesian provinces reporting FMD, including the popular tourist island of Bali.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild cloven-hooved animals, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, camelids and buffalo. The virus does not infect horses. The most likely way that FMD could enter Australia is by the illegal importation of livestock products such as meat and dairy products. This entry pathway for travellers from at risk countries is mitigated by Australia’s border biosecurity arrangements which have protocols in place and audits at ports, mail centres and airports.

LSD affects cattle and water buffalo and is spread by insect vectors such as ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes. The most likely way LSD could enter Australia is by insects being carried across from Indonesia via strong winds during monsoonal weather or infected insect vectors entering on returning vessels. The returning vessel pathway is mitigated by the disinfestation of returning ships.

Both FMD and LSD are exotic to Australia and an incursion of either virus into Australia would be devastating to our livestock and associated industries through international trade losses, market disruptions, animal health impacts and production losses. Both diseases do not present a public health risk.

What you can do to help to protect Western Australia from FMD and LSD

The recent detections of LSD and FMD in Indonesia highlight the importance of having strong biosecurity systems in place both at the Australian border and at your property level.

Ensuring good on-farm and supply chain biosecurity practices is a priority for producers and the livestock industry as part of WA’s prevention and preparedness activities.

Most producers will have a farm biosecurity plan, now is a good time to review it and if needed enhance that plan. Biosecurity measures include keeping a register of all visitors on the property, having farm gate signage, ensuring visiting vehicles don’t have access to areas livestock are in, keeping accurate records of livestock movements and isolating any new stock for a period of time.

Further information can be found at: https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au

An additional biosecurity measure is to ensure that your farm and livestock workers returning from overseas holidays, where they have had direct contact with farm animals while travelling, are aware of the importance of making accurate border biosecurity declarations and don’t have direct contact with livestock for 7 days after their return.

Early disease detection is key to a successful eradication and to reduce the potential impact of the disease.  It is critical that producers are aware of what FMD and LSD look like and report any signs or suspicion of these diseases immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888, to your Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) veterinary officer or private veterinarian.

Producers should also be ensuring that livestock identification and traceability requirements are being met as in the event of an emergency animal disease incident, DPIRD and industry need to know where susceptible animals are and who is responsible for them. Producers are encouraged to check their livestock ownership registration details are up to date, as this assists with effective and rapid communication in a biosecurity emergency response where quick action is required.

There has been significant effort put into FMD and LSD preparedness in Australia and Western Australia (WA). Prevention and preparedness are continuing to be prioritised, given the heightened risk and activities are being coordinated nationally with government and industry stakeholders.

DPIRD has established an Industry and Government Preparedness Task Group to share information and enhance WA's emergency animal disease prevention, preparedness and response capacity.

The group has been looking at response arrangements, vaccination, traceability and supply chain continuity and ways to continue to build awareness of FMD and LSD, including what to look for and how to report. The group will meet again in late July 2022.

Further information

Please click the links below to access 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

Other government resources: 

• Engagement Hub - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, QLD - view
• FMD National Outlook - Australian Government - view
• Lumpy Skin Disease - Australian Government - view

DPIRD will be convening a webinar to present further on LSD and FMD prevention and preparedness. Further details of the webinar will be included on the Emergency Animal Disease Hub - foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin diseases webpage mentioned above.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Michelle Rodan
Chief Veterinary Officer
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

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