Biosecurity efforts are rising amidst the discovery of viral fragments of foot-and-mouth disease in a beef product.

A testing blitz is also underway across Melbourne following Wednesday’s detection of the virus in imported pork products. 

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said fragments of the virus was detected at Adelaide Airport after an undeclared beef product was brought in by a passenger from Indonesia. 

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious animal disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. It’s commonly recognised by blisters in or around the mouth, limping and excessive drooling in animals. 

While non-harmful to humans, we can still carry it for up to 24-hours and transmit it rapidly to livestock. 

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp told the ABC increased checks at supermarkets, airports and mail centres could reveal future discoveries. 

In an effort to curb infections, sanitation mats are being rolled out across Australian international airports as a precaution to clean the footwear of arriving passengers. 

It should be noted that while viral fragments were detected, the disease itself is not in the country. 

“What has been found is viral fragments, which are almost certainly dead,” said Watt.

“They’re not live virus and it doesn’t mean that we’ve got foot-and-mouth disease in the country at the moment.”

The federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment did not say when the fragments were found at Adelaide Airport, except to note that it was “recently”.

For more information on foot and mouth disease, click here.

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