Prepare now to save our bacon

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner is praising the pork industry for its preparations for a possible incursion of African Swine Fever in Australia or Queensland.

“This month, we met for the second time with the African Swine Fever–Queensland Awareness and Action Forum members to review our preparedness effort,” Mr Furner said.

“I first met with the forum members in October when I committed to continuing engagement on this emergent and critical biosecurity threat.

“To date, we have provided Queensland veterinarians, pig owners, pig farm workers, feral pig hunters, industry and the general community with information about African Swine Fever, the risks of introduction and how they can help prevent it as part of our shared approach to preparedness.

“All pig owners, whether they are commercial farmers, hobby farmers, pet owners or those who come into contact with pigs, including feral pigs must also play their part.

“Pig owners must be registered as a biosecurity entity, which helps Biosecurity Queensland respond in the event of an emergency animal, pest or disease incident.”

Producers can check their contact and registration details are up-to-date at qld.gov.au/BiosecurityRegistration

The Queensland Government has rapidly scaled up its efforts including:

  • increased education and awareness across potential pathways of introduction such as food outlets that may give leftovers to pig owners, people buying pork products from overseas, and feral pig hunters who might see something unusual
  • enhancing laboratory diagnostic capacity
  • supporting industry to boost biosecurity measures
  • providing more than 4000 registered biosecurity entities in Queensland that keep at least one pig with information about prevention and preparedness.

Mr Furner said the greatest risk was from people illegally bringing pork or pork products into Australia from overseas and these being fed to or eaten by pigs.

“Recent detections of African Swine Fever virus fragments in meat confiscated at Australian airports and mail centres highlight the serious risk of entry through passenger movements and mail,” he said.

“I urge everyone to make sure they know what can and can’t be brought into Australia and comply with these requirements.

“While prevention is the key, we have to be ready in the event this disease does arrive.

“In its most severe form, up to 100 per cent of pigs may be affected and die. It’s estimated that by the end of 2019 up to a quarter of the world’s pigs may be lost as a result of this disease.

“No treatment or vaccine is available, so if African Swine Fever became established in Queensland it would be very difficult to eradicate.”

/Public Release. View in full here.