Indonesia Starts Vaccination Program for Cattle to Contain Lumpy Skin Disease

“But FMD has the potential to be eradicated because the vaccines are quite good and transmission can be halted using biosecurity measures.
“Whereas, with insect-transmitted viruses, there isn’t anything you can do.”

Federal funding to fight disease

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was in Darwin today announcing $61.6 million to boost biosecurity efforts across northern Australia, including $15 million towards efforts to stop the disease from getting into Australia.

“Lumpy skin disease, recently confirmed in Indonesia, is a key priority,” he said.
“We are committed to protecting our $15 billion cattle industry.

“Because if we got lumpy skin disease in this country, you would lose your [live] export markets overnight and that would devastate the Northern Territory.”

Vaccination rollout in Indonesia

Indonesia has launched a major effort to contain the outbreak. A vaccination program supported by the Australia-Indonesia Health Security Partnership and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO) is underway.

Also read: Australia to Reopen Borders to Fully Vaccinated Tourists Starting From Feb. 21

There have been 330 cases of lumpy skin disease confirmed in Riau province, according to the FAO.

“If we look at the cattle population at risk, this means about 15 percent of the cattle in the area were affected,” The FAO's Luuk Schoonman said.

“Normally with a lumpy skin disease that could be up to 40 percent, so the percentage of affected cattle has been low.

“The vaccination program is ongoing in eight districts in Riau province.”

Restrictions have been placed on the movement of cattle out of the province and the Indonesian government has launched an awareness campaign.

“A major containment effort is going on, and we hope that we are able to contain lumpy skin disease to Riau Province,” Schoonman said.