Lecture 4B

Question 1

What exotic pest are Australia protecting from

Answer 1

– Viral: FMDV, Influenza, Ebola
– Bacteria: Salmonella enteritidis, Mycobacterium bovis
– Parasites: Theileria parva (East Coast Fever), Trypanosomosis

– Prions: BSE (Mad cow disease)

total of 98

Question 2

What are the categories of pests and weeds

Answer 2

– Invasive plants
– Invasive insects
– Invasive animal species (for example aquatic animals)

Question 3

What are the likely source of exotic disease

Answer 3

• Imports
• Hitching a ride
• Travellers
• Bioweapons and terrorism
• Introduced species

Question 4

What can be done to inspect ships with quarantine service services

Answer 4

• Entering Australia waters
– Contact authorities several days in advance
– Only enter at approved ports (having custom services)
– Moore, anchor or dock at specified place
– Display yellow quarantine flag
– Stay on board

Question 5

How does ship inspection work for ship

Answer 5

– Expect to be boarded by custom official
– Declare any biological material
– Check for biological materials
– Check paperwork of vessel
– Check for illegal items (weapons, drugs)

Question 6

What are the regulation for importing biological materials

Answer 6

– Obtain permit from AQIS
– Material to be delivered in quarantine area approved for
type of goods
– Treatment may be required

Question 7

What are the issues with controlling importing biological material

Answer 7

– Very large volumes of goods
– Biological risks may be missed
– Non-declared material
• Ignorance
• Profit
• Malicious

Question 8

What is the main reason for checking the tourist and traveller

Answer 8

• Exotic diseases
– Avian influenza: Anything containing raw eggs or bird products including feathers
– FMDV: Raw material from all hooved animals (Pig, horse, sheep, cattle,…)
– BSE (prions): Any cattle material from endemic area
• Pets
– Expensive to import
– Emotional attachment

Question 9

What terrorists want

Answer 9

• Cause acute and severe disease

• In early stages causes symptoms resembling common illnesses
– Spread without being noticed
• Rare disease
– It is clear that it is an act of terrorism >< accident of nature

• Are easy to handle and spreading quickly
– Grown undercover without specialist knowledge and equipment

Question 10

Why are there not more bioterrorism happening?

Answer 10

– Technical skills and equipment >< explosives/military
– Risky for non-expert
– Effect is slow to develop > lack of publicity
– Not compatible with suicide (at least no immediate suicide)
– Unintended consequences are hard to control
– Previous case likely linked to researcher rather than traditional terrorist

Question 11

What is it unlikely to resurgence of extinct disease

Answer 11

– Need a great deal of knowledge and facilities
– Unintended consequences likely (smallpox killed
300 million people in the 20th century)
– Retaliation likely to be swift and extreme