Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) represents one of the highest threats to Australia’s livestock industries, particularly those involving cattle, pigs and sheep. However, the threat FMDV poses is not new, and Australia has over many years developed a detailed response plan should the virus be detected here.

Underpinning, the success of this plan is to detect the virus as soon as possible if an incursion occurs. The first step, after detection of an infected animal will likely be a ban on the movement of animals, animal lockdown, the extent of the ban will depend on the suspected extent of the outbreak.

However, as this virus is so easily spread and the potential impacts of it are so high, it is likely that the boundaries of the movement ban will be very conservative. It is far easier to modify these once the extent of the outbreak is known, than to continually extend them to try and contain the virus. The movement of people and equipment in and out of the containment area may also likely be restricted/monitored.

In a way, the COVID pandemic has prepared Australia for FMDV. People are more aware of viruses, diagnostic assays, epidemiology, etc, and similar concepts will apply to controlling FMDV. As with the pandemic all Australians have a role to play in minimising this threat. Susceptible animals are not imported into Australia, the most likely scenario of FMDV getting into the country is someone bringing it in. This is why we have such strong biosecurity at our international borders.

The risk of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) entering Australia is increasing, and the recent detection of viral fragments in meat products demonstrates the disease is circulating outside of Australia. Australians should feel confident the government and biosecurity community are acting appropriately, taking the necessary steps and measures both pre-border (i.e., outside of Australia) and at the border to prevent the disease entering our country.

However, we must address on-farm bio-preparedness nationally. We urgently need to invest in post-border biosecurity and support our farmers and livestock producers to implement biosecurity practices. This is our golden hour of opportunity where we can provide resources and support to our farmers to help mitigate the risks and consequences of any outbreaks which may occur. Farmers need assistance now to review specific risks to their enterprises, review the biosecurity procedures and practices they currently have in place, draft or amend biosecurity plans, and most importantly operationalise biosecurity practices and measures.

Implementation of biosecurity practices before an outbreak occurs will provide farmers with the opportunity to make adjustments to current operations and consider the types of operational issues which might arise and have not been accounted for in biosecurity plans. However, the Australian Government must provide financial support to farmers immediately to assist with the implementation of crucial biosecurity practices. Australian farmers cannot be expected to shoulder the financial burden of on-farm bio-preparedness alone.