(Australia)Anthrax outbreak/foot and mouth disease alert

[Guest guest]

Tue 8 Jan 2002George Robertson <RobertG3

Source: ASIA PULSE [edited]

 

Australia on Full Alert After Foot & Mouth Disease Outbreaks in Asia

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CANBERRA: The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service [AQIS] remains

on full alert for a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease [FMD] after

outbreaks throughout Asia. The Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial

Research Organization (CSIRO) this week issued a new warning to watch for

FMD after recent outbreaks in South East Asia.

AQIS today said Australia would continue to be strict, and paranoid, about

which products would be allowed into the country. " We continue to be on

full alert because we've been on full alert since 1872, " AQIS spokesman

Carson Creagh said. " That is the last time we had FMD in Australia and that

was just outside Geelong. " But it is only by maintaining that kind of

alertness that we have kept this disease out. "

Last May the federal government boosted AQIS staff and equipment numbers to

help keep FMD out of Australia.

 

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Thu 10 Jan 2002 10:57:30 +1100

Per-Johan Lind <Per-Johan_Lind

Source: The Courier Mail [edited]

<http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,3564208%255E

952,00.html>

ANTHRAX has killed at least 10 cattle on a southwestern Queensland property

in only the third outbreak of the disease in the state in 100 years. As a

team of Primary Industries officers raced to contain the outbreak 2 key

beef properties were placed under quarantine.

Beef officials last night quickly assured consumers that Queensland beef

was still the safest in the world. In Tokyo, Australia's Meat and Livestock

Corp staff were planning an international response, fearing the outbreak

could harm the state's $3 billion beef industry. But a spokesman for the

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister said it would be

unnecessary to take any measures, such as a ban on Australian beef imports

or a consumer warning. The spokesman said there had been many outbreaks of

anthrax in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s and consumers knew the risk of

infection from eating beef was extremely small.

The outbreak at Collingwood station near Wandoan, 350 km northwest of

Brisbane, was revealed yesterday after 10 animals died last week on the

2000-ha property. The 10 animals died days after being transported with 90

others from Ingie station between Dirranbandi and St George where they had

been on assignment.

It emerged last night that at least 260 head of cattle are believed to have

died at Ingie over the past 5 years of a disease now suspected to be

anthrax. The cattle had not been tested until now. [Presumably they mean

that samples had not been submitted in the past. - Mod.MHJ]

The manager of the Wandoan property reported his dead cattle to a local

veterinarian earlier this week and samples were sent to the Primary

Industries Department in Toowoomba. Tests late on Tuesday in Brisbane

confirmed the cause of the deaths was anthrax. A team of DPI officials

immediately quarantined both Collingwood and Ingie stations for at least 42

days. The infected cattle will be incinerated and the remaining 900 cattle

on the 2 quarantined properties will be vaccinated against anthrax.

Collingwood co-owner Ann O'Farrell said it was now a matter of watching and

waiting. " I think it (quarantine period) is something like 42 days. We have

to see if any more cattle die, " Ms. O'Farrell said. " (But) The rest of our

herd have been as good as gold. " [usually quarantine for 10-14 days

following vaccination is adequate. Prolonged quarantine tends to discourage

farmers from reporting possible cases and only makes the situation worse. -

Mod.MHJ]

It was believed the outbreak was under control and the DPI had no plans to

extend the quarantine area. Neighbouring property owners have been warned

to immediately report any unusual disease signs or deaths of stock. DPI

stock inspectors had started environmental testing to determine the source

of the outbreak.

[The rest of this article is concerned with calming Queenslander and

foreign market nerves about the safety and wholesomeness of their beef,

which is correct. - Mod.MHJ][byline: Chris Jones & Hiroshi Osedo]