Biosecurity

Suzie Christensen. Meet Willow, the newest potential recruit to the LHIB’s Biosecurity detection dog team. Arriving on island from Perth at 13 weeks old, this little Cocker Spaniel is being evaluated for her suitability to island life, and if all goes well she will begin her training in detecting invasive species.

World leading augmented reality (AR) technology developed in South Australia is being used to assist producers to recognise emergency animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease in sheep ... The tool generates a flock of augmented reality sheep, providing an opportunity for the user to identify the sick animal by looking for signs and symptoms of exotic EAD diseases.

The presence of White Spot has been confirmed in an enclosed prawn facility in the north of NSW by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. White Spot is a highly contagious viral infection that affects crustaceans and can cause major mortalities in farmed prawns ... “The detection is within an enclosed prawn facility and was identified during routine testing carried out by our DPI Biosecurity Team.: Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders

The presence of Varroa Mite (a parasite of adult honey bees that weakens and kills colonies and can also transmit viruses) has exacerbated and magnified the regular stresses of beekeeping in Australia ... “Lead by beekeeper volunteers from around Australia, the eradication effort is progressing well; however, if NSW can't contain Varroa Mite, then it will eventually be everywhere in time, including Victoria”: Owner and Managing Director of Warral Maldon, Lindsay Callaway.

A diagnostic tool using nano technology to rapidly detect high-risk plant pests and pathogens in the field will undergo feasibility testing in a biosecurity innovation pilot kicking off this month. The lab-on-a-chip project will investigate if portable nano-biosensors improve the efficiency of plant disease detection at Australian borders and in-field surveillance.

Geoff Helisma. The NSW Government has “supported” six of the 28 recommendations made in the 2022 Flood Inquiry, and “supports in principle 22 recommendations, with further work required on implementation”. Meanwhile, the report’s conclusion states, in part, “More damaging floods and other natural disasters will come, and NSW must shake off its ‘rinse and repeat’ disaster thinking.

Samuel Davis. A proposal to give greater powers to local disaster management groups during public health crises will keep Cape communities safer, a long-time mayor says ... Under Cr Scott’s plan, a health emergency would be treated like a natural disaster, with government agencies working together.

While the risk remains low, the threat of a widespread outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is hanging over a well-prepared Australian livestock industry ... The Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Analysis increased its assessment of the probability of such an outbreak in Australia over the next five years, reaching 11.6% in June 2022, a 9% rise on March 2021.

Livestock producers wanting practical information and tools to better manage their on-farm biosecurity are invited to watch the latest industry webinar update now available. This webinar was held last Tuesday 9 August and continues a collaborative cross-industry approach as the Australian livestock industry works together to keep  lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) out of the country.  

The third instalment of an industry webinar series providing updates on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as well as lumpy skin disease (LSD) is set to be held next Wednesday 24 August ... The webinar continues a collaborative cross-industry approach as the Australian livestock industry works together to keep  LSD and FMD out of the country.