A livestock disease that could shut down Australia's meat and livestock trade has reached Bali, sparking calls for harsher border measures for those returning from the popular tourist destination.
It was confirmed over the weekend at least 60 cows had tested positive to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on the Indonesian Island.
The highly contagious disease, which is yet to reach Australia, affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, and the virus would have severe consequences for the nation's animal health and trade.
The livestock disease was discovered in Indonesia in May, but the discovery of FMD in Bali cattle puts Australia at greater risk because of the high number of Australian visitors to the island.
Bali-based veterinarian Ross Ainsworth said the chances of the disease getting into Australia and threatening the nation's red meat sector had "just gone up dramatically".
He also said it was possible the cows which tested positive could have been infectious for up to a fortnight, given the time it had taken to test the animals and disease incubation time.
Dr Ainsworth said the risk of FMD spreading in Bali and tourists carrying the virus back to Australia was high.
"So it's pretty serious."
"The big danger period in Bali [and for Australia], is from now until the herd is fully vaccinated, [because] until there's livestock vaccinated across Indonesia we're at a much higher risk."
Dr Ainsworth said changes should be made at Australia's borders immediately, including making it mandatory to disinfect the shoes of anyone returning from Bali to Australia to help stop the spread of the disease.
He also wants "more careful questioning" of returning travellers about whether they have been on a farm.
He said three districts, including north and east of Denpasar and one on the north coast of Singaraja, have detected FMD.
A Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) spokeswoman said an update was being sought from Indonesian authorities.
The spokeswoman said airport officers were "operating with increased vigilance across all flights arriving from Indonesia", however she did not say if new measures would be introduced.
"Australia has strict biosecurity protocols in place to prevent high-risk materials, such as contaminated equipment or clothing, animals and animal products, being brought in by travellers who may have been exposed to diseased animals.
"These same biosecurity checks are in place for all travellers from Indonesia."
