021128 Philippines Bans Australian Beef on Anthrax ScareNovember 27, 2002Manila - The Philippines issued a temporary ban on beef imports from Australia following a confirmed case of anthrax in Victoria state, a senior official said. "The Bureau of Animal Industry has taken the initiative to temporarily suspend the issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance (import permits) on Australian beef imports in order to protect public health," the official said. However, he said the ban pertains only to beef imports and that the bureau will continue to allow the entry of cattle imports. He said it is unlikely that cattle on local farms could get infected from live cattle imports, since an animal carrying the disease will only survive for about 48 hours after contracting it. Australia's Department of Natural Resources and Environment has quarantined a farm near Swan Hill town in the northwest of Victoria state following the death of a 17-month-old heifer from anthrax. The official said that since there is no way for the government to identify the state from which its beef imports originate, it was best that the import restriction covers the entire continent. Anthrax is an animal disease that affects mostly grass-eating animals such as cattle, because they can eat spores living in the soil. The anthrax bacteria thrives by forming long-lasting spores. It can also cause serious illness in humans. Australia is the only source of the country's beef imports. Since January, beef imports from Australia have totaled 15.68 million kilograms, while imports of feeder cattle have reached 83,733 heads.
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