Farmer calls for Indonesia travel ban as Australia faces ‘catastrophic’ risk

 A farmer says it would be “catastrophic” if there was an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Australia, and we should introduce a temporary Indonesia travel ban to reduce the risk.

Foot and mouth disease is wreaking havoc among livestock in Indonesia, and there are fears it could ruin the livelihoods of thousands of Australian farmers and lead to serious food shortages if it makes its way here.

The virus is not a risk to human health, but people can carry the disease — most commonly spreading it via their shoes, clothes or carrying it in their noses where it can survive for up to 24 hours.

Farmer Alan McCormack says an outbreak would devastate rural communities.

“The first thing that happens if we have an outbreak is that there’s a lockdown on all animal movements,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“That means immediately there’s no livestock being sent to abattoirs, so there’s no meat being put on supermarket shelves and butchers shelves.

“Straight away Australian food would be severely impacted.”

Mr McCormack is calling for a temporary ban on travel to Indonesia until the risk is mitigated.

Press PLAY below to hear what a foot and mouth outbreak in Australia would mean

Image: Adi Prima/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images