Animal health and diseases

Endemic

• Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease)
• Infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis)
• Infection with Echinococcus granulosus

Emergency

• Bluetongue (clinical disease)
• Encephalitides (tick-borne)
• Infection with Australian bat lyssavirus
• Infection with Bacillis anthracis (Anthrax)
• Infection with Borna disease virus
• Infection with Ehrlichia ruminantium (Heartwater)
• Infection with foot and mouth disease virus
• Infection with Japanese encephalitis virus
• Infection with Mycobacterium bovis
• Infection with rabies virus
• Infection with Rift Valley fever virus
• Infection with rinderpest virus
• Infection with Trichinella spp.
• Infection with Trypanosoma evansi (Surra)
• Infection with vesicular stomatitis virus
• Infestation with Chrysomya bezziana (Old World Screwworm)
• Infestation with Cochliomyia hominivorax (New World screwworm)
• African horse sickness DOCX (724.4 KB)
• Lumpy skin disease

Exotic

• Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (clinical disease)
• Infection with alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (malignant catarrhal fever, wildebeest-associated)
• Infection with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus
• Infection with Echinococcus multilocularis
• Infection with Francisella tularensis (Tularaemia)
• Infection with Leishmania spp.
• Infection with Mycobacterium caprae
• Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease)
• Infestation with Warble-fly (warble-fly myiasis)
• Trypanosomosis (tsetse fly associated)
• West Nile Virus (clinical disease)

Endemic

• Infection with Anaplasma marginale (bovine anaplasmosis) in tick free areas
• Infection with Babesia bovis, B. bigemina or B. divergens (bovine babesiosis) in tick free areas
• Infection with bovine leukaemia virus (enzootic bovine leucosis)
• Infestation with Cysticerous bovis (Taenia saginata)
• Cattle ticks (Parkhurst strain)
• Cattle ticks (Rhicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus australis) in tick free areas
• Cattle ticks (Ulam strain)
• Cattle ticks (Ultimo strain)
• Infection with Fasciola hepatica (liverfluke)

Emergency

• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
• Haemorrhagic septicaemia (Infection with Pasteurella multocida serotypes 6:b and 6:e)
• Infection with Brucella abortus
• Infection with Jembrana disease virus
• Infection with lumpy skin disease virus
• Infection with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC (contagious bovine pleuropneumonia)
• Infection with Theileria parva (East Coast fever) or T.annulata (Mediterranean theileriosis)

Exotic

• Infection with bovine virus diarrhoea virus (type 2)

Emergency

• Infection with Brucella melitenisis
• Infection with Nairobi sheep disease virus
• Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus
• Infection with sheep pox virus or goat pox virus
• Infection with Wesselbron virus
• Infestation with Psoroptes ovis (sheep scab)
• Maedi-visna
• Pulmonary adenomatosis (Jaagsiekte)
• Scrapie

Exotic

• Contagious agalactia (clinical disease)
• Infection with Chlamydophila abortus (enzootic abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis)
• Infection with louping ill virus
• Infection with Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (contagious caprine pleuropneumonia)
• Infection with Salmonella abortus-ovis (salmonellosis)

Endemic

• Infection with equine arteritis virus
• Infection with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)
• Infection with equine infectious anaemia virus

Emergency

• Infection with African horse sickness virus
• Infection with Babesia caballi, Babesia equi, or Theileria equi (Equine piroplasmosis)
• Infection with Burkholderia mallei (Glanders)
• Infection with Eastern, Western or Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viruses
• Infection with equine encephalosis virus
• Infection with equine influenza virus
• Infection with Getah virus
• Infection with Hendra virus
• Infection with Histoplasma farciminosum (epizootic lymphangitis)
• Infection with Neorickettsia risticii (Potomac fever)
• Infection with Taylorella equigenitalis (contagious equine metritis)
• Infection with Trypanosoma equiperdum (dourine)

Exotic

• Infection with Salmonella abortus-equi

Endemic

• Infection with Brucella suis
• Infection with Bungowannah virus (porcine myocarditis virus or atypical porcine pestivirus)

Emergency

• Infection with African swine fever virus
• Infection with Aujeszky’s disease virus (pseudorabies virus)
• Infection with classical swine fever virus
• Infection with Influenza A viruses in swine
• Infection with Menangle virus
• Infection with Nipah virus
• Infection with porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus
• Infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
• Infection with swine vesicular disease virus
• Infection with Teschovirus A (porcine enteroviral encephalomyelitis)
• Infection with transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus
• Infection with vesicular exanthema of swine virus

Exotic

• Infection with Seneca Valley virus (Senecavirus A)
• Infection with Cysticercus cellulosae (Porcine cysticercosis)
• Post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome

Endemic

• Infection with Mycobacterium avium (avian tuberculosis) in birds
• Infection with Salmonella enteritidis in poultry
• Infection with Salmonella Pullorum (Pullorum disease)
• Avian paramyxovirus (type 1)
• Infection with Chlamydophila psittaci (psittacosis)

Emergency

• Infection with infectious bursal disease virus (very virulent and exotic antigenic variant forms)
• Infection with influenza A viruses in birds PDF (152.8 KB)
  Infection with influenza A viruses in birds DOCX (344.6 KB)
• Infection with Newcastle disease virus (virulent)

Exotic

• Duck virus hepatitis
• Infection with avian metapneumovirus (Turkey rhinotracheitis)
• Infection with duck herpesvirus 1 (duck viral enteritis/duck plague)
• Infection with Mycoplasma iowae
• Infection with Salmonella Gallinarum (fowl typhoid)

There are many harmful bees and bee pests which could seriously damage the NT honey bee industry. Read more about bee pests and diseases.

Endemic

• Devil Facial Tumour Disease

Exotic

• Infection with Brucella canis
• Infection with Camelpox virus
• Infection with Ehrlichia canis (Ehrlichiosis)
• Infection with Pseudogymnoascus destructans in bats (White Nose Syndrome)
• Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (chronic wasting disease of deer and feline spongiform encephalopathy)

ASF spreads easily by direct contact between affected pigs or by exposure to contaminated items including:

• feed
• feed ingredients
• equipment
• vehicles
• clothing and footwear.

It can also be spread through meat from infected animals.

The virus survives under most environmental conditions and is resistant to most disinfectants. It is not inactivated by freezing or heat less than 100 degrees celsius.

The most likely way ASF can enter Australia is through international travel and mail.

Declare goods when entering Australia

You must declare certain food, animal products and plant material when arriving in Australia.

If you don't declare goods that may risk Australia’s biosecurity, you could be fined or prosecuted.

Check your mail

Don't order animal or food products containing meat from overseas though the mail.

You must make a report if you receive international mail that contains meat or animal products. Do this on the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture website.

More information

To find out more read the following:

• be a responsible traveller PDF (805.7 KB)
• travelling and working in Australia PDF (664.2 KB).

You can also get posters on:

• good hygiene practices PDF (336.8 KB)
• help protect Australia PDF (206.1 KB)
• don't bring meat or animal products into Australia PDF (240.1 KB)
• travelling and working in Australia PDF (178.6 KB).

You should take precautions to keep Australia free from ASF.

Don't feed swill to pigs

Food that contains meat or meat products, or that has had contact with meat or meat products, is known as swill.

It is illegal to feed swill to pigs.

You can feed your pigs:

• commercially prepared pig feeds
• grains
• fruit and vegetables that have not had contact with meat
• Australian milk and by-products.

To find out more read the Agnote on prohibited pig feed PDF (160.8 KB).

Get a property identification code

You must register a property identification code (PIC) if you own pigs.

It is free to get a PIC and can be done online.

The PIC system allows animals to be easily traced if an animal disease outbreak takes place.

Failure to register a PIC can incur penalties.

Check for signs of disease

You should report any signs of disease immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Symptoms of ASF include:

• sudden death
• high fever and loss of appetite
• lethargy
• skin reddening
• blueness of extremities (including ears)
• bloody diarrhoea
• vomiting
• abortions.

Find your nearest government vet.

Complete a waybill if your pigs move

If you plan to move your pigs, you must complete an NT waybill.

This is an official record of livestock movement, which will allow a biosecurity response team to track animals in the event of an outbreak.

Protect your pigs from disease

You can minimise biosecurity threats by taking simple measures to protect the health of your pigs and restrict the spread of an outbreak.

Find resources to help keep your farm and pigs clean on the farm biosecurity website.

More information

To find out more read the following:

• register for a free PIC PDF (587.7 KB)
• keep your PIC updated PDF (869.8 KB)
• good on-farm practices PDF (613.8 KB).

You can also get posters on:

• don't feed swill to pigs PDF (258.5 KB)
• get a PIC PDF (268.5 KB).

You can help keep the Territory clean by following simple biosecurity measures when you are out hunting.

• Clean and disinfect all equipment on site.
• Clean and bag all carcasses before leaving the hunting area.
• Report any signs of sick or dead pigs by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
• Respect all quarantines and restrictions that are in place.
• Don't leave food scraps from your meals in hunting areas.
• Don't hunt wild pigs if you are in contact with domestic pigs.
• Don't move live animals to new locations without completing an NT waybill.
• Don't travel with exposed carcasses in the back of a ute.

More information

Read the fact sheet on good hunting practices PDF (256.3 KB) or download the poster PDF (199.1 KB).

If ASF is detected in Australia, the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan would be used to guide the emergency response to the disease.

The only way that ASF can be eradicated is through early detection and containment.

You can find out more on the Animal Health Australia website.

A property biosecurity plan can help reduce the risk of disease entering or spreading from your property.

To find out more about making a farm biosecurity plan, go to the Animal Health Australia website. You can also get a biosecurity action list.

You do not need to lodge the plan with anyone. You should keep your plan and any related documents on hand for future reference.

If you don't make a plan

If you don't make a biosecurity plan you might not be able to trade with some properties or markets.

You won't be able to sell or move cattle into Western Australia (WA).

This is because your property will be scored at a higher risk of disease under the Johne's Beef Assurance Score (J-BAS) system.

J-BAS

The J-BAS is a number from 0 to 8 which represents the risk of Johne's disease on a property.

A high score means a low risk of Johne's disease.

Your NT property will go from J-BAS 7 to J-BAS 0 if you don't have a biosecurity plan.

If you want to sell or move cattle into WA you will need at least a J-BAS 7.

Live export markets require a property to be free from Johne's disease for up to five years. This is consistent with J-BAS 6.

You should check your markets and find out if your buyers require a J-BAS.

Get a J-BAS

Find out how to get a J-BAS using the J-BAS flowchart for NT producers PDF (839.3 KB).

Read what you need to do when moving and exporting livestock.

For information about moving cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, deer or camelids get the Johne's disease: livestock movement requirements fact sheet PDF (819.0 KB).

Bring cattle into the NT

Cattle and buffalo entering the NT must be:

• free from Johne's disease with a NT health certificate and waybill
• certified as having a herd score of J-BAS 6 or higher for beef cattle and buffalo or a dairy score of 7 or higher for dairy cattle and dairy buffalo
• accompanied by a National Cattle Health Declaration
• identified with a three-hole punch if vaccinated with Silirum vaccine.

If you need to test for Johne's disease as part of J-BAS you should ask your veterinarian for testing options.

Get the Johne's disease: information for NT veterinarians fact sheet PDF (828.7 KB).

If your cattle test positive for Johne's disease

If your cattle test positive for Johne's disease, you must report it to the chief veterinary officer. If initial results are positive, more testing will need to be done.

JE has been detected in more than 50 feral pigs across the Top End including:

• Victoria Daly, Litchfield, Tiwi Islands and West Arnhem local government areas
• Marrakai-Douglas Daly and Cox-Daly unincorporated areas.

Surveillance activity continues across the NT.

Other states or territories

In February 2022, JE was detected in Australian piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

In March 2022, cases were also detected in South Australia.

Read more about JE interstate on the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

In March 2022, JE was declared a communicable disease incident of national significance.

Notifiable diseases are those that:

• pose a threat to livestock production industries or public health
• could have a major impact on international trade.

Suspected cases of notifiable diseases must be reported.

Food safety

JE is not a food safety concern and pork products are safe to eat.

The NT does not have any commercial piggeries. However, pig owners, hunters and landowners should report signs of the disease.

It is not known how the virus has come into Australia. The movement of infected mosquitoes or migratory waterbirds may have played a part in the virus’ spread.

Movement restrictions have been applied to infected pig properties in Australia.

Life cycle

Animals and people become infected with the virus through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

The normal lifecycle of JE is between waterbirds and mosquitoes, which may then accidentally spill over to pigs and horses.

The spread from pig to pig through genetic material such as semen is rare.

Horses are known to be a ‘dead end host’. They do not carry a blood infection that will reinfect mosquitoes.

You should monitor your pigs and horses for signs of JE.

Pigs

• Mummified and stillborn or weak piglets, some with neurological signs.
• Boars may experience infertility, fluid retention (oedematous) and congested testicles.

Horses

In many cases, horses can be infected but not show signs of the disease. Most clinical disease is mild. However, more severe encephalitis can occur which may be fatal.

Signs include:

• elevated temperature
• jaundice
• lethargy
• anorexia
• neurological signs such as:
  • incoordination
  • difficulty swallowing
  • impaired vision
  • over-excitement.

To find out more about signs, go to the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

If you're a pig owner with a property identification code (PIC), you can get your registered pigs tested for free.

To arrange testing, contact your local vet or livestock biosecurity officer.

Read more about the testing process PDF (388.5 KB).

There are steps you can take to reduce the impact of the disease.

This includes making sure that any stagnant water does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

How to protect pigs

If you work with or have contact with pigs, you should:

• take steps to control mosquitoes
• continue to use effective biosecurity measures.

How to protect horses

If you own horses, there are steps you can take to protect them from mosquito bites.

• During hotter months, cover your horse with:
  • a light cotton rug
  • a fly mask and
  • a safe insect repellent if the horse allows. Don't spray it around or above the eyes.
• Stable horses between dusk and dawn.
• Horses left outside overnight can wear a lightweight permethrin (insect repellent) fabric.

To find out more, read the JE AUSVETPLAN response strategy on the Animal Health Australia website.

How to protect yourself

Find out how to protect yourself against mosquitoes and how JE affects people.

Management

Surveillance and testing are underway in the NT, and you must follow instructions given by biosecurity authorities.

If you notice anything unusual or suspicious, you must report it.

It is important to maintain good biosecurity practices on your property. This includes having a property identification code (PIC) for your animals.

Get more advice on the Farm Biosecurity website.

One way LSD can enter Australia is through international travel and mail.

Declare your goods

You must declare certain food, animal products and plant material when arriving in Australia.

If you don't declare goods that may risk Australia’s biosecurity, you could be fined or prosecuted.

Read more about international travel and your responsibilities on the Australian Government website.

Check your mail

Don't order animal hides, or animal or food products containing meat from overseas through the mail.

You must make a report if you receive international mail that contains meat or animal products. Do this on the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture website.

Check for signs

If you see any signs of LSD in your livestock, you should report it immediately.

You must:

• call the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888 or
• contact your nearest vet or livestock biosecurity officer.

Get a property identification code

You must register a property identification code (PIC) if you own cattle or buffalo. It is free and can be done online.

The PIC system allows animals to be easily traced if an animal disease outbreak takes place.

Complete a waybill if you move livestock

If you plan to move your cattle or buffalo, you must complete an NT waybill.

This is an official record of livestock movement which allows a biosecurity response team to track animals if an outbreak happens.

How to protect your livestock

To reduce the impact of insect-borne diseases on your animals, make sure any stagnant water does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes or other biting insects.

To find out more about protecting the health of your livestock and reduce biosecurity threats, go to the Farm Biosecurity website.

LSD can look like other common skin diseases such as:

• bovine herpes virus 2
• warts
• mange
• ringworm
• rain scald.

Brahman (bos indicus) cattle and buffalo have more subtle skin lumps compared with the British breed (bos taurus) cattle. This may make detection of LSD harder in northern Australia where breeding Brahman cattle is more common.

You should consider LSD as a differential diagnosis in livestock that have multiple skin lesions.

As LSD can only be diagnosed at a laboratory, you should take samples and submit them for diagnostic testing.

You can get case subsidies and free testing at the Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory.

Always practise good biosecurity when you are out hunting.

• Clean and disinfect all equipment on site.
• Report any unusual signs in animals by calling the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
• Respect all quarantines and restrictions that are in place.
• Don't move live animals to new locations.

B. suis has been detected in feral pigs in the Northern Territory (NT).

It's widespread in Queensland's feral pig population, and has also been detected in the feral pig population in northern New South Wales.

Other species of the Brucella bacteria can cause different types of brucellosis.

Australia is free of Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis.

Bovine brucellosis is caused by Brucella abortus and was eradicated from Australia in 1989 as a result of a national eradication program.

Control of B. suis in feral pigs isn't possible, and treatment of domestic pigs is not considered practical.

Treatment for infected dogs includes a long course of antibiotic therapy and desexing to reduce the risk of spread to people or other animals. Treatment is not always successful, and in some cases dogs will relapse.

Humans are treated with extended courses of antibiotics.

You should monitor for the following signs.

Pigs

Pigs will general show signs of:

• reproductive failure
• piglet mortality
• swollen testicles.

Dogs

Dogs can remain bright, alert and show no obvious signs of infection.

Clinical signs include:

• fever
• swollen testicles
• back pain
• lameness
• vomiting
• lethargy
• haematuria
• abortion.

Cattle and horses

Cattle and horses may pick up infection from open waters used by feral pigs.

There are no specific clinical signs associated with B. suis infection.

However, both cattle and horses may react positively to brucellosis testing due to infection with B. suis.

A positive test result for brucella in cattle during a herd fertility test, must be investigated to ensure that it has not been caused by brucella abortus (bovine brucellosis), which is exotic to Australia.

Humans

The incubation period in people is variable from 5 days to months, but averages 2 weeks.

Weakness, fatigue and exhaustion are common with fever, head and body pains and mental depression.

Anyone who suspects they may have been infected with B. suis should contact their doctor.

Recovery can take up to 12 months, but antibiotics shorten the disease course.

Spread

The main source of infection is infected pigs.

Boars can pass the disease on during mating. Spread can also occur by the ingestion of food and water contaminated with:

• urine
• placenta
• discharges from infected sows.

The organism can survive in faeces, urine and water for 4 to 6 weeks and much longer in freezing conditions.

Direct sunlight will kill the organism quickly.

Dogs

Infected dogs are a potential source of infection for people through contact with urine, saliva and reproductive materials.

Dogs may also act as mechanical carriers by shedding Brucella in the faeces after ingesting infected aborted foetuses or placentas.

Humans

In humans, B. suis mainly affects:

• abattoir workers
• pig farmers
• feral pig shooters.

Humans can contract the disease through skin, conjunctiva and by ingestion.

Killing and slaughter of feral pigs can increase the risk of human infection unless strict hygiene measures are taken.

Infection can occur from contaminated meat during preparation, cooking and serving of feral pig meat.

Veterinarians can submit:

• whole blood or serum for serology
• fresh, chilled tissue
  • eg. entire testicle, uterus or aborted foetuses for bacterial culture.
  • note: can't differentiate between specific species of Brucella. 

Tissue specimens should not be sliced open as this may increase the risk of human infection.

Label clearly 'Brucella exclusion'.

All samples are double bagged and any paperwork is outside the sample container.

Prevent the entry of feral or other infected pigs onto your property.

If you notice reproductive disease or swollen testicles in your pigs, contact a veterinarian.

When handling pigs you should:

• cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings
• wear enclosed waterproof footwear
• use good personal hygiene
• wash your hands regularly.

Safe handling practices

Use personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves and eye protection when:

• handling pregnant or sick pigs
• butchering pigs.

When hunting:

• cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings
• wear enclosed waterproof footwear
• use good personal hygiene
• wash your hands regularly.

Clean and disinfect work areas and vehicles after a hunt.

If butchering feral pigs take extra precautions including wearing gloves and eye protection. If a pig looks sick, don't handle or butcher it.

Always cook game meat thoroughly.

Don't feed raw feral pig meat to your dogs.

When handling pigs and pig hunting dogs you should use good personal hygiene and wear:

• PPE
• including gloves and eye protection.

Particular care should be taken when:

• treating wounds
• collecting blood
• neutering
• assisting with whelping or reproductive problems
• performing caesareans on pig hunting dogs.

A safe work method statement for collecting samples for B suis testing is available from the NSW Department of Industry website.

Never bring any meat or animal products back into Australia if you’ve been travelling overseas.

If you have been hiking, or visiting farms or rural areas overseas you must declare this on entry to Australia.

Clothing and equipment such as hiking gear that has been in contact with animals, animal waste or soil must be carefully cleaned and disinfected.  This is because the virus can survive in particles of soil.

Carrying infectious virus on the soles of shoes, walking sticks etc, could lead to infection of animals in Australia.

If you may have been in contact with FMD-infected animals, you should not visit any property with livestock for at least 7 days after returning to Australia.

Learn to recognise the signs of FMD and monitor your animals closely.

You should prevent:

• visitors from having unnecessary contact with your livestock
• contact between domestic and feral pigs.

Check for signs

You must call the emergency animal disease (EAD) hotline immediately on 1800 675 888 if you have any young animals:

• that die suddenly or
• you suspect one of your animals may have blisters (formed or ruptured).

Get a property identification code

You must register a property identification code (PIC). It is free and can be done online.

The PIC system allows animals to be easily traced if an animal disease outbreak takes place.

Complete a waybill if you move livestock

If you plan to move livestock, you must complete an NT waybill.

This is an official record of livestock movement which allows a biosecurity response team to track animals if an outbreak happens.

Feeding pigs

Only feed fruit, vegetables, grains and commercial livestock feed to pigs.

Never feed prohibited feed (swill) such as kitchen scraps to pigs as it can introduce FMD and other serious animal diseases.

Keep pigs out of dumps.

Property biosecurity plan

Have a property biosecurity plan in place. Make sure all workers and visitors are aware of your biosecurity rules.

This may include not allowing anyone who has been overseas to come onto your property for 7 days after arriving back into Australia.

Practise good hygiene

Ensure items and equipment coming on to or leaving your property are clean.

Wear clean clothes and footwear when visiting a property

Read the emergency animal diseases - a field guide for Australian veterinarians on the Australian Government's Outbreak website.

Get information on FMD clinical signs, sampling and testing.

Find out more about what to look out for on the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website (DAFF) and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) websites.

Get the FMD guide for veterinarians on the Queensland Government website. You can also watch the YouTube videos on biosecure entry and exit decontamination.

Always practise good biosecurity when you're out hunting by:

• cleaning and disinfecting all clothing, equipment and vehicles on site
• reporting any unusual signs in animals by calling the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888
• respecting all quarantines and restrictions that are in place
• not moving live animals to new locations
• taking your rubbish home – food scraps may be eaten by animals, which is a potential form of swill feeding.

• Lethargic and reluctant to walk
• Drooling
• Blisters or ruptured blisters:
  • in the mouth and on the tongue
  • on the teats of females
  • between the toes and around the top of the hoof
• Rapid weight loss
• Signs in buffalo might not be as severe.

Mouth blister. Photo credit Agriculture Victoria.

Foot blister. Photo credit Agriculture Victoria.

• Lameness - pigs may appear to want to crawl instead of walk due to painful hooves.
• Blisters on the feet or blanched (white) looking skin around the hoof.
  • In severe cases the hoof may appear to be detaching from the toes.
• Blisters on the snout.

Pig’s feet with 9-day old blisters. Photo credit Biosecurity Queensland.

• Signs of FMD in sheep and goats are usually very mild and may be easily missed.
• Common signs can include a fever and lameness in one or more legs.
• Blisters may form in the mouth but are not as noticeable as in cattle.

Tongue blister. Photo credit Agriculture Victoria.

FMD is considered one of Australia's greatest biosecurity risks.

An FMD incursion would have severe consequences for Australia's animal health and trade, including considerable economic losses with restrictions being placed on both domestic and international markets.

Even an isolated, rapidly controlled outbreak could cost several billion dollars to eradicate, with serious economic and social effects in other sectors, including tourism.

Impacts would be felt across the live animal export trade, and by exporters of genetic materials, meat and dairy products.

A large multi-state FMD incident could cost Australia more than $52 billion in lost revenue over 10 years.

FMD is a viral disease that spreads rapidly between animals.

The virus is excreted in breath, saliva, mucus, milk and faeces.

Animals can become infected through direct contact with:

• infected animals or materials
• eating or drinking infected products
• breathing in the virus.

The disease spreads most commonly through the movement of infected animals.

Pigs can be infected with FMD through swill feeding. This is when pigs are fed uncooked meat or unprocessed dairy products, including those that might have been illegally imported from FMD-affected countries.

Swill feeding is illegal in Australia.

Pigs produce large amounts of infectious virus in the breath, so they can infect many other animals.

Cattle are very susceptible to, and able to be infected by breathing in small quantities of the virus.

FMD-infected feral pigs could be a major source of disease for NT pastoral properties. They can shed the virus around water points and other places where cattle encounter pigs and pig waste products.

If FMD was detected in Australia, the disease would be contained and eradicated as quickly as possible in order to reinstate Australia's disease-free status for trade purposes.

The eradication program will be delivered according to the AUSVETPLAN response strategy for FMD.

Measures to eradicate the FMD outbreak would include:

• strict movement controls, including an immediate livestock standstill
• tracing the movements of animals, animal products, people and things to identify where infection has spread
• surveillance to detect infected herds and flocks
• the humane slaughter and biosecure disposal of infected herds and flocks
• decontamination to destroy the virus
• other movement controls and enhanced biosecurity to minimise spread of disease.

Emergency livestock vaccination may, in certain circumstances, be an important part of controlling an FMD outbreak.

Australia will consider the potential for emergency vaccination of livestock as part of the response strategy from the day an incursion of FMD is detected.