The diseased product was pork floss, but fortunately the virus was not live.
The Australian government has found foot and mouth disease (FMD) in imported pork products with authorities increasing testing of meat and border security surveillance.
Officials said that African swine fever was also detected in the produce that was on the shelf of a Melbourne supermarket but has now been removed from shelves.
No live virus was detected in the products and doesn’t impact Australia’s status of being free of these diseases.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry also mentioned that a passenger travelling from overseas was intercepted with beef products that tested for FMD fragments.
“Foot and mouth disease is considered one of Australia’s greatest biosecurity threats to livestock and an incursion of FMD or ASF would have severe consequences for Australia’s animal health, trade and economy and our regional communities,” they said.
An outbreak in Indonesia has seen calls for the borders to be closed, amid fears the disease will run rampant in Australian livestock.
But at the moment the government has increased its security and urged anyone travelling from Indonesia to declare if they’ve been in contact with farm animals.
“If arriving in Australia, travellers must truthfully declare visits to rural areas or contact with farm animals. Travellers must also declare any biosecurity risk material, such as meat, dairy, or any other animal product,” they said.
It’s also encouraged that returning travellers clean their shoes, clothing or any equipment that might contain soil, mud, and manure, as this is how the disease is spread.
Authorities have also suggested that people leave behind easily disposable shoes such as thongs and sandals, to offer increased protection.
If the live virus manages to make its way into Australia it could cost the agriculture industry $80 billion, skyrocket the price of meat and halt exports.
A similar situation occurred in the early 2000s in the UK, where a total of six million livestock were euthanised and cost the industry more than $15 billion.
Humans are not affected by FMD.
The New South Wales government announced that they will back funding for electronic ID tags for sheep and goats in order for easy tracking if an FMD outbreak occurs.
