Australia’s chief veterinary officer has warned that the country’s agriculture industry faces its “greatest biosecurity threat” in decades.
Dr. Mark Schipp’s warning comes after Indonesia witnessed the re-emergence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in early May, which followed an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in March and African swine fever earlier.
“The incursion of three of those diseases of concern into Indonesia in the past two or three years is of very significant concern,” Schipp said in comments obtained by AAP.
The chief veterinarian said the outbreak in Indonesia doubled the risk of FMD entering Australia from nine to 18 percent, and that the Australian Chief Veterinary Office would conduct an assessment in the upcoming weeks.
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