Highly contagious swine fever that kills 80% of pigs is sweeping across Europe and Asia - and could decimate the Australian pork industry
- Incurable, highly contagious disease is wiping out pigs across Asia and Europe
- There are fears it could come to Australia and decimate the $2.8bn pork industry
- Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie has called for a summit to tackle the crisis
An incurable and highly contagious disease wiping out pigs across Asia and Europe threatens to decimate Australia's $2.8billion pork industry.
Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie fears African swine fever is on the march.
She is convening an emergency meeting later this week to try and stop the virus entering the country.
An incurable and highly contagious disease wiping out pigs across Asia and Europe threatens to decimate Australia's $2.8billion pork industry. Pictured, a Chinese vendor waits for customers at her pork stall at a wholesale market in Beijing
'The threats to the system are real and deserve proper resourcing and national attention,' Senator McKenzie said on Tuesday.
'We need everyone to take biosecurity seriously and make sure they don't become a vector for the disease.'
The disease does not pose a threat to humans but kills about 80 per cent of the pigs it infects.
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China's pig population has been slashed by 30 per cent since the country was gripped by African swine fever.
Half of China's herd could be killed by the end of this year - a loss of 200 million animals, or one-in-four of the world's pigs.
Senator McKenzie is desperate to protect Australia's 2700 pig producers and the 36,000 workers who rely on their businesses.
Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie fears African swine fever is on the march
Customs officers have seized 23 tonnes of pork from countries affected by African swine fever since border checks were stepped up, with 15 per cent testing positive for the virus.
Less than 10 per cent of Australian pork is exported.
'Australian customers would be hard hit should the unthinkable happen to our pork industry,' Senator McKenzie said.
Livestock, meat and stockfeed figures, food and beverage industry leaders, markets analysts and chief veterinary officers will attend the meeting on Friday.
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