Part 4/9:
Veterinarians and producers note that diseases like foot-and-mouth involve highly contagious viruses capable of spreading rapidly through multiple vectors, including footwear, vehicles, wildlife, and human contact. Past outbreaks, such as the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in England in the early 2000s, serve as stark warnings of the potential devastation such an incident could cause. An outbreak could lead to widespread culling, economic losses, and irrevocable damage to Australia's reputation as a premium beef exporter.