Exotic disease
Think the worst first
DPI&F Biosecurity officers
Exotic animal diseases - the nation's nightmare
Australia's stock-owners have endured droughts, floods and bushfires as well as mouse and locust plagues. However, none of these disasters would compare with the economic and social impact of an outbreak of a major exotic (foreign) animal disease such as foot-and-mouth-disease.
In the event of a foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak, bans by some importing countries on Australian livestock and livestock products would have a profound effect on our export meat and livestock trade. Wool and dairy exports could also be disrupted.
Saleyard prices in the affected industries would plummet. Export abattoirs and processing plants would face severe disruption. Many regional economies would be badly affected and their long term viability threatened.
Economic modelling suggests that a confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth-disease would shake the whole economy. The value of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could fall by around 3.5 per cent with a 1% increase in unemployment.
On the other hand, if rabies was to enter Australia, the main concern would be its direct effect on people.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. People can get rabies after being bitten by an infected animal. Were rabies to establish here, handling stray dogs or feral cats would carry a very real risk of infection followed by a horrible death.
There are many exotic animal diseases that would have varying degrees of economic and/or public health effects, should they become established in Australia.
Quarantine - Our first defence
Australia's livestock industries rely, in the first instance, on vigilant defence by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). It is vital that travellers, migrants and importers continue to observe Australia's strict quarantine regulations.
The second line of defence is the ban on feeding swill to our livestock. Swill includes all meat or meat products, any illegally imported dairy products and any vegetable waste contaminated by meat or illegally imported dairy products. These products can still contain some viable disease organisms and feeding them to livestock provides the opportunity for a disease outbreak. In Queensland, swill cannot be fed to any of our domestic livestock (including feral livestock) except for dogs and cats.
The final line of defense is the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) which is a well-rehearsed and co-ordinated emergency response plan, involving Commonwealth, State and Territory veterinary authorities.
AUSVETPLAN swings into action immediately an exotic animal disease incident is suspected.
Early detection is vital
To limit the damage from exotic animal disease and prevent its spread, it is vital that livestock producers, stock agents, transport operators, processors, in fact anyone working with animals, immediately report all cases of animals with unusual signs to their nearest private or government veterinary officer.
If you are unable to contact these officers locally, please use the Disease Watch Hotline, 1800 675 888, from anywhere in Australia. Calls to this number are toll-free 24 hours a day. Alternatively, the DPI Business Information Centre can be contacted on 13 25 23 between 8 am and 8 pm , Monday to Friday.
There are no Government charges for exotic animal disease investigations, including negative diagnoses. All reports are treated confidentially.
Look for the unusual
The following signs require immediate reporting:
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Unusually high numbers of animal deaths or sick animals
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Ulcers, erosions or blisters around the feet, on the muzzle, udder or teats or in the mouth
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Strange nervous signs
- Profuse bloody diarrhoea
Many diseases and conditions that occur in Australia can resemble serious exotic animal diseases. For example, pigs eating turnips or celery may develop signs resembling foot-and-mouth disease. Nevertheless - Think the Worst First. You could save yourself thousands and the country millions of dollars. Veterinary officers would rather check 100 reports than miss out on one early diagnosis of an exotic animal disease.
What to do meantime
If you suspect there may be an exotic animal disease on your property, you should not leave the farm until your livestock have been examined by your private veterinary surgeon or government veterinary officer.
Until then, you should discourage visitors. Your report will be checked out as quickly as possible,
If a disease is confirmed
If government veterinary officers suspect your animals may have an exotic animal disease, necessary quarantine procedures will be put into place. If tests prove to be negative, the quarantine will be lifted immediately.
If an exotic disease is confirmed, the property will remain under quarantine and, depending on the disease, some or all the stock may be slaughtered. With some diseases, vaccination may be required. People and vehicles leaving the farm may need to be disinfected. These restrictions will remain in force until the property is given the 'all-clear'.
Compensation is payable
Compensation will be paid to owners at full market rates for all stock that die or are destroyed in the eradication of the disease.
The stock are valued at the going market rate as if they did not have the disease. The going rate relates to the present and usual use of the stock. This means that stud stock are valued at their stud value, not their slaughter value, and milking cows that have just calved are valued at a higher rate than dry cows of the same age.
The valuing is usually done by an experienced officer of the Sate or Territory agriculture department or by a qualified commercial valuer employed by the department. If a producer disagrees with the valuation, there is provision for an independent valuer to be called in.
If, when the property is removed from quarantine, market forces have improved, the owner can request a re-valuation. If the value of stock destroyed has increased, the compensation will be "topped-up".
There are 13 major diseases that are most feared:
- Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
FMD is one of the most contagious animal disease known.
Species affected : Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, related species.
Common signs: Blisters in and around the mouth, on the feet and teats. It may kill very young animals.
- Three foot-and mouth disease lookalikes
There are three exotic animal diseases that closely resemble foot-and-mouth disease.
Vesicular stomatitis affects the same species range as foot-and-mouth disease plus horses. Swine vesicular disease and vesicular exanthema affect only pigs. All three so closely resemble foot-and-mouth disease that they would be treated as such until proven otherwise.
The establishment of any of these diseases would lead to trade disruptions due to suspicion that Australia may have foot-and-mouth disease.
- Bluetongue
Species affected: Of domestic animals, sheep can be the most severely affected. Cattle can carry the disease without showing signs of infection. Bluetongue is not directly contagious from one animal to another - midges transmit the virus.
Common signs: Initially, fever with a nasal discharge and excess saliva, both may be blood-stained. This is followed by a swollen tongue that, in severe cases, may appear blue (hence the name). After a week, lesions develop in the mouth and sometimes on one or more feet. The mortality rate in sheep varies from none to 20 per cent, but can be higher.
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ("mad cow disease")
Species affected: Cattle are the main natural hosts. Antelope, large and domestic cats are susceptible. It is also believed it can be transmitted to people through eating meat from infected animals.
Common signs: Usually only seen in animals over 2 years old. Behavourial changes such as aggression and apprehension, incoordination of hind limbs, high stepping gait, weakness and loss of condition.
- Rabies
Species affected: Can affect all warm-blooded animals including people. It is spread by the bite of an infected animal.
Common signs: Severe nervous disorders leading to death within two weeks. Tame animals may become aggressive and vice versa.
- African swine fever, classical swine fever
Species affected: Pigs.
Common signs: Both diseases have the same signs: sudden deaths, fevered animals with skin blotching (reddening), or in mild cases, few signs at all.
- Rinderpest
Species affected: Cattle and buffalo. Sheep, goats and pigs may become affected but are not considered significant hosts. Sheep and goats may contract a similar disease called peste des petits ruminats (literally 'plague of little ruminants').
Common signs: severe diarrhoea, nasal and eye discharges, fever, depression, erosions in the mouth, nose and genital tract, laboured breathing.
- Newcastle disease, Highly pathogenic avian influenza
Species affected: Domestic poultry including chickens and turkeys. Newcastle disease may affect other birds and can cause conjunctivitis in people. Avian Influenza has also infected small numbers of people in Asia,Europe and Africa (about 200) during the recent outbreaks, with a high percentage of infected people dying (about 90 people).
Common signs: Both diseases cause similar signs, often sudden deaths in up to 90 per cent of birds in a shed. Newcastle disease may cause diarrhoea and nervous signs such as a twisted neck. Avian influenza may cause blue combs and wattles with haemorrhages. Hens may lay soft-shelled eggs.
- Screw Worm Fly
Species affected: All warm-blooded animals including human beings. Cattle are likely to be the preferred host.
Common signs: Severe flystrike. The flies will lay eggs in any wounds or body orifices. Struck areas have an unpleasant pungent odour. Animals can become debilitated and die.
Contacts
If you suspect an exotic animal disease, please immediately phone your local veterinarian or government veterinary officer or
DPI Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or
Use the national Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 for 24 hour, toll-free service .
Videos on exotic animal diseases are available for loan through your local stock inspector or veterinary officer.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last reviewed 19 April 2006
