The tiny barbarians are at the gates and Australia’s biosecurity measures have been tested. First, the Covid-19 outbreak demonstrated the ease at which an incursion of a new disease or pest can cause havoc on livelihoods and the Australian economy.
Then foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spread to Bali, elevating the threat of a virus that hasn’t been here since 1872. FMD is a highly contagious virus and an outbreak would be disastrous for our livestock sector, significantly affecting our ability to export meat, live animals, dairy products and wool.
However, FMD isn’t the only disease or pest we need to keep out of the country.
Here are seven other good reasons for travellers to maintain good biosecurity awareness by washing shoes and declaring all goods when arriving in Australia.
Lumpy skin disease
This highly infectious disease was reported in Indonesia in March. It would pose serious implications for the live cattle trade and limit the export of dairy products, genetic materials, hides and some meat products.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is mostly spread by biting insects or close contact with infected animals. LSD is not harmful to humans but can infect cattle and buffalo, causing a range of animal welfare issues and production losses.
Worryingly, LSD could enter the country in infected insects blown into Australia by a tropical storm. That makes it a very difficult disease to control.
African swine fever
Since 2016 the presence of African swine fever (ASF) has increased across several countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. Most of the animals reported lost to the virus have been in Asia, which accounts for 82% of reported global pig losses. ASF has made its way to Australia’s doorstep, with the virus reported in Timor-Leste in September 2019 and Papua New Guinea in March 2020.
ASF is a deadly virus that is spread through the transport of infected materials or infected pigs. ASF can persist in pork products for many years, making detection at Australian borders of undeclared animal products a key line of defence. In the two years to November 2020, border officials intercepted 43 tonnes of pork products in mainland capital city airports excluding Darwin.
Although Australia doesn’t have a significant export market for locally produced pork products, the entry of the virus into the local pig population would be disastrous given the 90%-plus mortality rate in infected pig populations.
Varroa mite
Australia is currently dealing with a serious outbreak of varroa destructor mite after years of vigilance trying to keep it out. Not only is varroa a serious concern for the local honeybee industry, the horticulture sector would be badly hit because it relies on a healthy bee population for successful pollination and robust yields.
Sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle recently intercepted an incursion of varroa mite and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries has issued a varroa mite emergency order to try to stop its spread.
Khapra beetle
This little critter is a serious pest in stored grains, rice, oilseeds and dried foodstuffs. In hot weather beetle populations increase quickly, which can cause significant losses to stored produce, such as grain in silos. Infested stores can be contaminated with cast skins and hairs from beetle larvae, which can also pose a health risk.
If the khapra beetle enters Australia, many of our trading partners would reject stored grain, rice and oilseed produced here. Given that Australia exports a high proportion of the crops we grow, this beetle could cause huge losses to the broadacre cropping sector.
Brown marmorated stink bug
The brown marmorated stink bug hides within all manner of imported goods and personal effects, being known to hitchhike in travellers’ suitcases.
It can breed huge populations, which pose a significant risk to many producers because it feeds on more than 300 different host plants, including fruit trees and woody ornamentals like apples, citrus, figs and beans. If it is established in Australia, this pest would be extremely difficult to eradicate, as pesticide has limited effect.
Xylella
This plant disease has no cure.
The xylella bacterium kills the plant by limiting its ability to feed. It would affect grapes, almonds, avocados and multiple species of fruit trees. It would most likely come in via infected plant material and would be spread locally by insects.
Karnal bunt
Karnal bunt is caused by a fungus that infects grains at the flowering stage. The fungus produces a huge quantity of powdery spores that discolour grain and infection is often signalled by a fishy smell.
If karnal bunt got into Australia, it would have a major economic impact on the grain sector, with over 45 trading partners likely to reject exports. Karnal bunt would be almost impossible to eradicate because the spores released by the fungus can persist in the environment for up to four years and can be carried significant distances by wind.
