Potential cost of FMD outbreak in Australia
The cost of a FMD outbreak to Australia could be anywhere between $5 billion (if small and contained) to $50 billion (if it involves multiple states).
Early detection of a disease incursion helps limit the impact on livestock industries.
It estimated that a FMD outbreak involving multiple states would cost Australia $50 billion over 10 years. The economic losses for a small, contained outbreak were estimated to be about $5-6 billion (about one-tenth the cost of a multi-state event), assuming that export bans would be lifted more quickly.
Producers of FMD-susceptible livestock would bear the brunt of the revenue losses due to the restriction on imports and depression of domestic prices, with flow-on effects to other industries.
The social costs would also be significant, with uncertainty and social isolation affecting the well-being of individuals and households, and a cumulative effect on community activities, services and cohesion.
The Australian government and cattle industry are investing significantly in biosecurity surveillance to enable the early detection and response to a FMD incursion.