Infected with Skin Disease, Indonesia Stops Importing Cattle from Australia 

Indonesia has temporarily suspended live cattle imports from four Australian facilities after a viscous skin disease (LSD) was detected.

IDXChannel - Indonesia has temporarily suspended live cattle imports from four Australian facilities after a viscous skin disease (LSD) was detected in a small number of cattle shortly after arrival, the Australian government said.

Australian officials are working with Indonesia to reassure market participants that all animals exported from Australia meet Indonesian requirements, including being free of LSD, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Sunday (July 30).
Rapid diagnostic testing of livestock has begun to help restore exports from affected facilities, he said.

LSD, which causes blisters and reduces milk production, is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cows and buffalo that is transmitted through insect bites but poses no risk to humans.

Australia is free of LSD and livestock exports to Indonesia continue from other facilities, Mr Watt said.

Given the presence of LSD in Indonesia, positive results in cattle after reaching Indonesia were unexpected, Australia's chief veterinary officer Mark Schip said. LSD was first reported in cattle in Indonesia early last year.

(DKH)