CANBERRA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Australians travelling to Asia have been warned not to bring back food or footwear to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Indonesia, the second most popular international holiday destination for Australians, became the latest Asian country to confirm an outbreak of ASF, the deadly disease that has wiped out one quarter of the world's pig population.
In response the Australian Government announced an additional 66 million Australian dollars (45.3 million U.S. dollars) in funding for bio-security at airports and mail centers to stop the disease from reaching the country.
Bridget McKenzie, the Minister for Agriculture, on Monday told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the outbreak in Indonesia was particularly concerning because there are 188 flights from the country to Australia every week.
"Bali is a favourite holiday destination for Australians," she said.
"We have a zero tolerance approach to people who lie about what they have in their luggage and we've refused entry to Australia for six people caught with biosecurity risk material.
"African swine fever kills about 80 per cent of the pigs it infects, there's no cure and no vaccine; and it's not present in Australia."
Australians who are caught trying to bring pork products into the country face fines of up to 420,000 AUD (288,775 USD) and up to ten years in jail.
In addition to pork products, Australians travelling to Asia over the Christmas and New Year period have also been warned to be wary of outdoor equipment that could be carrying the disease.
"I'd appeal to anyone travelling between Australia and Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia to be extra diligent about declaring what they're bringing back in-and to clean shoes and any other outdoor equipment," McKenzie said,
"This virus is exceptionally hardy and can live in frozen meat for up to two years and in things like blood for six years.
"It can be spread by people going into an affected area and taking the virus out on their shoes, or through pigs eating scraps that contain affected product."
