Calls for beefed up biosecurity after tourist hotspot Bali confirms foot-and-mouth disease

A livestock disease that could shut down Australia’s meat and livestock trade has reached Bali, sparking calls for harsher border measures for those returning from the popular tourist destination.

It was confirmed over the weekend at least 60 cows had tested positive to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on the Indonesian Island.

The highly contagious disease, which is yet to reach Australia, affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, and the virus would have severe consequences for the nation’s animal health and trade.

The livestock disease was discovered in Indonesia in May, but the discovery of FMD in a Bali cattle herds puts Australia at greater risk because of the high number of Australian visitors to the island.

Bali-based veterinarian Ross Ainsworth said the chances of the disease getting into Australia and threatening the nation’s red meat sector had “just gone up dramatically”.

He also said it was possible the cows which tested positive could have been infectious for up to a fortnight, given the time it had taken to test the animals and disease incubation time.

And he said the risk spreading and carrying the virus back to Australia was high because most of Indonesia’s herd was not vaccinated.

“So it’s pretty serious.”

Dr Ainsworth said changes should be made at Australia’s borders immediately, including making it mandatory to disinfect the shoes of anyone returning from Bali to Australia to help stop the spread of the disease.

He also wants “more careful questioning” of returning travellers about whether they have been on a farm.

He said three districts, including north and east of Denpasar and one on the north coast of Singaraja, have detected FMD.

Australian Border Force has been contacted for comment.