Dept of Primary industries and Regional Development

Update on emergency animal diseases

3 August 2022

Foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease update

Dear industry stakeholder,

We’ll be holding several foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease information forums during August and continue to update our website with the latest information.

For up-to-date information, please visit Emergency Animal Disease Hub - foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin diseases.

Situation update 3 August 2022

Foot-and-mouth disease preparedness: information forums

A series of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) preparedness information forums have been coordinated to provide useful advice and guidance to livestock owners and answer questions. These are free to attend.

The forums will:

Ensure livestock producers are aware of the disease signs and know what they should be doing to prepare and protect their stock.
Provide information on the risk mitigation measures that are in place and can be put in place at a farm level.
Provide information on response arrangements should we get a case of FMD or LSD in Australia.

Click the link below to register for the free information forum near you:

Manjimup – Thursday 11 August 2pm to 4pm – register Manjimup
Cunderdin – Wednesday 17 August 2pm to 4pm – register Cunderdin
Katanning – Friday 19 August 2pm to 4pm – register Katanning
Dandaragan – Tuesday 23 August 2pm to 4pm – register Dandaragan

Update on national response activities

Commonwealth biosecurity officers have been granted extra powers under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to direct all travellers from Indonesia and Bali to walk over sanitising foot mats after disembarking, and other measures such as shoe cleaning.

In addition, since 27 July travellers have been asked if they have been in Indonesia during the past 7 days and referred for biosecurity assessment.

DPIRD response and preparedness activities

Farm visitors and contractors – fact sheet

In response to questions about visitors and contractors on farm, a fact sheet is now available, which provides biosecurity protocols for reducing risk, it includes:

What to do:

Before you arrive – preparing for arrival and biosecurity kits for vehicles.
When you arrive – tips to minimise contact with livestock.
When you leave – washing down, equipment cleaning and changing clothing.

Download the fact sheet here.

Livestock biosecurity at events – fact sheet

A useful factsheet ‘Livestock biosecurity at events – basic advice for event holders and exhibitors’ is available.

Download the fact sheet here.

Farm gate signs

Free farm gate signs will be available from DPIRD regional offices south of Broome from 5 August 2022 or Elders and Nutrien Ag offices from 10 August 2022.

Traveller information

Information for travellers returning from Indonesia is available on the webpage, Emergency Animal Disease Hub - foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin diseases.

It includes:

Biosecurity protocols to follow and declarations to make.
What not to bring into Australia (meat or dairy).
Advice on cleaning or disposing of shoes.

We also continue to share information in the following ways:

Regular email updates, those not already receiving them can register here.
Social media updates, via DPIRD’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Industry-led activities

Webinar – practical biosecurity actions for livestock producers

A collaborative cross-industry webinar will be held on 6pm Tuesday 9 August (AEST), in partnership with Integrity Systems Company, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Animal Health Australia (AHA) with support from the FMD/LSD Industry Taskforce.

Livestock producers will find out more about: 

Practical biosecurity and traceability actions that you can implement on-farm. 
How you can contribute to an effective disease response. 
The first 72 hours following an emergency animal disease outbreak - what happens during a livestock standstill.

Includes a Q&A with representatives from Meat and Livestock Australia, Animal Health Australia and Integrity Systems Company.  

Register for the free webinar here: Practical biosecurity actions for livestock producers

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
Farm visitor contractor guide to biosecurity (fact sheet on right) - 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
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.