Reduce the risk of outbreaks
These pests and diseases are not in Australia.
We have identified these as potential threats, due to detections in the region around Australia. This increases the risk of an outbreak here. Learn what you can do to help manage the risk of an outbreak.
African swine fever (ASF)
Affects domestic and wild pigs. It has no vaccine and kills about 80% of the pigs it infects.
Brown marmorated stink bug
Feeds on, and can severely damage fruit and vegetable crops. It is also a nuisance pest as adults enter vehicles, homes and factories in large numbers in Autumn, looking for places to shelter over winter. They are more frequently found in cargo arriving in Australia between September and April, coinciding with late autumn and winter in the northern hemisphere.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
Affects all cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, deer and pigs. It does not affect horses or zebras.
Khapra beetle
Infests stored produce such as grain shipments or silos, eating the produce and making it inedible. As a hitchhiker in sea containers and a wide range of cargo, it continues to be a major threat to Australia’s grains industry.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD)
Affects cattle and buffalo. LSD is spread by biting flies, mosquitoes and ticks, or directly from animal to animal. It can travel long distances in infected animals or contaminated items.
Xylella
A serious bacterial disease that causes scorched leaves, browning and loss of leaves, stunted shoots, reduced fruit size, dieback and plant death. In Australia, there are over 700 plant species at risk if Xylella were to enter Australia.
See more
About pests and diseases
How to identify signs of animal or plant pests and diseases. This includes new weeds, diseases in wildlife and exotic ants.
What to do during an outbreak
How to report, what to report, and what to do next.
Training resources
Find training resources to help you understand your role during an outbreak.