ABC News Online
The
spread of foot and mouth disease from England into Scotland and Northern Ireland
has heightened fears it could arrive in Australia on the clothing or footwear
of an air traveller. The
disease affects cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.
British
livestock product exports have been banned and millions of animals are being slaughtered.
Queensland's
chief veterinary officer, Kevin Dunn, from the Department of Primary Industries,
says every day there is the threat that someone will unwittingly bring the disease
to Australia.
"If they have been in infected countries, they can bring
it in, not just on their clothing etc, but more importantly the risks relate to
animals products such as meats which are not cooked or prepared in other ways
other than heat treated," he said.
Customs checks
Passengers
entering Australia could face delays at the airport as custom officials carry
out extra checks to guard against foot and mouth disease.
The Quarantine
and Inspection Service will target passengers who have been in the United Kingdom
within the past three months.
Mr Dunn adds wild pigs could be a weak link
in Australia's efforts to keep foot and mouth disease off our shores.
The
feeding of swill to pigs is believed to have played a part in the epidemic in
the United Kingdom where millions of animals are being slaughtered.
He
says Australia has laws which prevent the feeding of meat scraps to livestock
but wild pigs could be exposed.
"We are making sure that there is awareness
in the broad community that the discarding of food scraps and meat waste, where
that waste may have originated overseas and if that is fed to pigs in the wild,
then that also presents a risk which we do have to take into account," he said. |
