THE SQUIZ
Australia’s border to Indonesia will remain open, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it would jeopardise 2-way trade worth $20 billion. He also criticised senior members of the Coalition, including former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, for advocating for the border to be closed when farming groups have rejected the suggested move. Instead, Albanese says the government is implementing the “strongest ever” biosecurity measures to keep foot and mouth disease (FMD) out of the country. Travellers from Indonesia will be directed to comply, including walking over sanitation mats (which aren’t in place yet), and they could be questioned by officers. It’s the first time the 2015 Biosecurity Act powers have been used in Australia.

WHAT’S THAT ABOUT?
FMD is a nasty viral disease that’s spreading through Indonesia. It affects cloven-hoofed animals – we’re talking about cows, sheep, pigs and goats – and it’s devastating. We haven’t had an outbreak here in modern times, but the number from Australia’s official agricultural researchers is that it would cost $80 billion over 10 years if it did arrive. Long story short, farmers would be required to destroy their animals if it’s detected in just one. And it’s a tricky virus to manage because it sticks to clothing, footwear, cars and feed. So when FMD spread to Bali, alarm bells rang because we have a lot of tourists coming and going from there. Travellers are being asked to bring home freshly cleaned clothes and to dump the thongs they’ve schlepped around in. And to be really honest about the food they’re bringing back into Oz. So far, viral fragments of FMD have been found here, but not the live virus. Cross everything and hope it stays that way…

AND I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT MONKEYPOX?
Yep. Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency. That’s come because cases rose to more than 16,000 across 75 countries, and there have been 5 deaths. There are only 2 other health emergencies like it at present – COVID and continuing efforts to eradicate polio. There’s a bit of nuance to note about the declaration: the WHO says the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally – except in Europe, where the risk is high. So why make the declaration? To speed up the development of vaccines and to get support for measures to limit the spread. Here in Australia, 42 cases have been reported in NSW, Victoria, the ACT, Queensland, South Oz – and last week, the Northern Territory recorded its first case. Most are people returning from overseas, and our officials think they can head off the spread.