Foot-and-mouth disease fragments detected at Australian border

A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has ripped through two Indonesian provinces since April, killing thousands of cows and infecting hundreds of thousands more

news.com.au - By Ellen Ransley and James Morrow via The Country

Traces of a devastating virus have been detected at the Australian border, with popular supermarket products also seized.

Viral fragments of foot-and-mouth disease have been detected at Australia's border.

The fragments of the virus, which threaten to devastate Australia's cattle industry, were found in pork products in Melbourne's CBD.

The products had been imported from China, Agriculture Minister senator Murray Watt confirmed.

Fragments of African swine fever were also found in the products, detected as part of routine surveillance.

Watt said it was the first time he was aware of foot-and-mouth disease fragments being detected in a retail setting. He said while there was no live threat from the disease, it was a reminder of how vigilant Australians needed to be.

"We have always said that animal product imports are actually the biggest risk of foot-and-mouth disease entering the country," he said.

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