Given the absolute COVID shemozzle that is occurring in Victoria, where the situation has gone from worse to a gazetted disaster, just what would happen if we were to experience an animal health epidemic?
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What would happen if an outbreak of foot and mouth disease put our livestock industries at risk? And given the daily ongoing breaches that occur at our airports, anything is possible.
Our border force people are right on the ball and they thwart many potential disasters with incoming visitors wittingly and unwittingly breaching biosecurity regulations. However, it is feasible that all transgressions are not detected, so are we able to contain and eliminate any outbreak?
Pleasing to say the answer is a resounding yes. Unlike the seat of the pants decisions that continue to be made around COVID, our animal health organisations have protocols, structures and plans in place to handle a wide range of disease outbreaks that would pose potential disaster to our animal health industries.
A clearly defined animal health chain of command is in place at state level that reports to a federal body headed by the chief veterinary officer who reports to the federal agriculture minister.
The suspect property or facility would immediately be quarantined.
We are fortunate to have professionals on board who have experience with foot and mouth outbreaks in the United Kingdom and experience in other epidemics.
On the ground, we have district veterinary officers who would be the first point of contact. The minute a suspected infection was reported, agreed and well-rehearsed protocols would be enacted. The suspect property or facility would immediately be quarantined.
A direct quote from Animal Health Australia: "Livestock owners know their livestock and are more likely to notice a problem before anyone else will. You are our greatest biosecurity defence when it comes to surveillance and reducing the impact of a serious animal disease by ensuring suspected animal diseases are reported quickly so disease can be contained and eradicated."
A funding model is in place and local government and the police force would be involved at all times. If livestock had to be destroyed, disposal sites would be identified. Biosecurity measures protect our billion-dollar primary industries and enhance our clean green image.
