Foot-and-mouth disease webinar

VICTORIA’S Chief Vet Graeme Cook will present to Victorian livestock producers and service providers at a webinar hosted by Agriculture Victoria. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a serious and highly contagious animal disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, deer and pigs. Cloven-hoofed animals are those with divided hooves. It does not affect horses or zebras.

Dr Cooke will be joined by Veterinary Officers Dr Megan Scott and Dr Jeff Cave for two sessions next week to discuss preparedness for biosecurity risks such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility. This includes all levels of government, the community, livestock producers and industry organisations and other supply chain participants such as livestock agents, transporters and contractors.

Defending a potential FMD detection is a number one priority for Agriculture Victoria and a large volume of work is underway.

This work includes awareness raising activities, preparedness exercises under the emergency management arrangements, scenario planning and staff carrying out surveillance and testing of suspect cases on the ground.

“Victoria has a preparedness and response plan ready, that been developed closely with industry,” Dr Cooke said.

“Good biosecurity practices are paramount for protecting our economy, environment and community from the negative impacts of pests and diseases.”

Dr Scott reminded everyone with livestock to make sure they had a Property Identification Code (PIC) that is up to date, and to review their biosecurity plans.

The webinar will run on two dates to give prospective attendees different opportunities to attend: Monday 1 August and Thursday 4 August, both starting at 7pm and running for one hour.

FMD is a notifiable exotic disease and any suspected or confirmed cases must be reported to Agriculture Victoria on the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888, or contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria Animal Health and Welfare staff.

Register for the webinar now at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events. You can also learn about foot and mouth disease, including signs at symptoms at agriculture.vic.gov.au/fmd.