A new vaccine to protect Australia's pig population against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is being developed in Victoria, and could soon be one of many emerging from a specialist vaccine laboratory to be built in Bendigo.
The mosquito-borne virus, usually only present in the country's far north east, has recently spread through Queensland to New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia with cases confirmed in animals in at least 28 piggeries across those states.
The disease has also killed three Australians as a result of a rare side-effect of JEV, inflammation of the brain.
To combat the threat of animal diseases spreading in Australia, Apiam Animal Health managing director Chris Richards said Latrobe University would assist them in developing the new custom vaccines.
"There are currently no autogenous viral vaccine facilities in Australia," Dr Richards said.
"Our farming competitors in the US and Europe have access to custom vaccines for when there are outbreaks on farms.
Autogenous vaccines are designed to combat a range of diseases affecting livestock and play an important role in reducing the widespread use of preventative medications in stockfeed.
"We've seen an increase in some emerging viruses that have come into our livestock industry over the past four or five years," Dr Richards said.
"This is the first dedicated [autogenous viral vaccine] facility that has been built in Australia."
But it is not just farmers and their livestock who will benefit.
"Viruses can find their way into various animals, and in the case of JEV and Ross River fever they can find their way into humans," Dr Richards said.
The co-op has received $700,000 from the Victorian government to put towards the vaccine facility.
A government spokesperson said the new laboratory would also increase the export of vaccines for the international market and was expected to create 40 full-time jobs.
