Spokesman Carson Creagh says bans have been placed on the importation of some UK food products. Formerly it was possible to bring into Australia certain dairy products. All dairy products have now been banned. The only items that we'll allow into Australia are meat products specifically pig or sheep meat products that are highly processed, for example, canned ham. The virus is predominantly carried by live animals.
Pigs transmit the disease the fastest although cattle are the most susceptible.
The virus spreads through the air so quickly a whole herd can be infected within two days. In Britain new cases are being detected almost hourly with cattle suffering from fever, drooling and blisters. This week, as it became clear the disease is out of control, AQIS offered to help. They were most appreciative of that offer and at the moment we're putting together a team of veterinarians to travel to England to help them with the tracing of the origin of this disease and to help with the control and eradication programme. It will enhance our own government and private vets' ability to recognise the symptoms and deal with a disease outbreak on the scale that the UK is facing.