Australia and exotic animal diseases

The Australian economy is vitally dependent on agriculture, livestock health and freedom from major exotic animal diseases. Future exotic animal disease pressures on Australian livestock industries will increase. High category risks include vesicular diseases, arthropod-borne virus diseases and Newcastle disease. Tighter quarantine control and surveillance alone cannot neutralise the increasing risks. Increasing preparedness to deal promptly with introduced disease demands a national approach and continuing liaison between veterinary authorities, the livestock industries and the many organisations that would be called on to assist in a major eradication effort.