Aussie Vets Ready To Fight UK Foot And Mouth Disease

The President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Dr Diane Sheehan says the AVA is offering to assist British authorities to manage the latest Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. “The AVA co-ordinated assistance to Britain following an outbreak in 2001,” Dr Sheehan said. “We sent 37 private veterinarians to help in the eradication of FMD and we stand ready to assist once again. It is in the interests of everyone that this outbreak is contained, and the AVA is happy to offer assistance.” Dr Sheehan said that while FMD does not pose a health risk to humans, any outbreak of this nature in Australia would constitute a disaster for our livestock industries. “The AVA fully supports more stringent measures being taken by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service,” Dr Sheehan said. “Australia’s livestock industries contribute billions of dollars to the economy and any outbreak such as FMD would cause major hardship in rural areas, and the effects of more expensive produce would flow on through the Australian economy,” Dr Sheehan said. “We should never take for granted the value of the good health status of Australia’s livestock industries,” she said. Dr Sheehan urged Australian travellers to assist quarantine authorities when returning from the United Kingdom. “Anyone who has visited a rural area should make sure their footwear is checked at quarantine, and we would urge travellers to be patient with all necessary measures to protect Australian interests.”

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