Strengthening biosecurity with cutting-edge science

Strengthening Australia and New Zealand's biosecurity is crucial in preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease that can devastate livestock industries. Both countries have robust biosecurity systems and preparedness plans in place, with vaccines from Boehringer Ingelheim playing a key role in containing potential outbreaks.

What is foot and mouth disease?

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of wild and domesticated animals with divided hooves, most notably livestock such as cattle, pigs, and sheep. It doesn’t affect humans, but it could affect Australia and New Zealand’s food supply and have a devastating economic impact on their livestock industries; estimated to cost billions over multiple years.¹

Thankfully, it hasn't been detected in neither Australia nor New Zealand for over 100 years, thanks to both countries’ world-class biosecurity systems. And should the unthinkable happen; both countries have robust preparedness plans in place to quickly detect, contain, and eliminate FMD.

What is the role of FMD vaccination in Australia and New Zealand?

A key component in FMD preparedness plans is the potential to use vaccines to contain and control an outbreak – and for Australia, New Zealand, and dozens of countries around the world, those vaccines are developed and manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim; the global leader in FMD vaccine research and development.

The vaccines work by safely engaging the vaccinated animal’s natural defences; helping it better fight of an FMD virus infection. This makes it harder for the FMD virus to jump from one animal to another, and gives authorities more time to control, contain, and eliminate the threat.

Both governments have robust plans in place to respond to an FMD outbreak. Their experts will determine how whether that response includes vaccination, based on best information and situation at hand. But what is certain is that access to a reliable supply of quality vaccines is an important option in the FMD response toolkit.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s role in protecting Australia and New Zealand’s biosecurity

Boehringer provides that critical vaccine supply capability to both countries as the supplier of their national FMD antigen banks. Upon activation by their respective governments, Boehringer will work closely with authorities to match the FMD strain to the corresponding antigen in the bank and begin rapid vaccine production – producing up to a million doses within a week.

Therefore Boehringer, in addition to providing innovative medicines that improve the health and wellbeing of Australia and New Zealand’s livestock and pets, plays a critical role in strengthening both nations’ biosecurity.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s long standing commitment to protecting Australia’s livestock industry has been reinforced by a multi-year contract to continue to provide antigen and vaccine supply capability as part of Australia’s Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) preparedness.

Following a competitive tender process, Boehringer Ingelheim has been contracted by Animal Health Australia (on behalf of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, and relevant livestock industries) to maintain an off-shore antigen bank and rapidly scalable vaccine manufacturing capability.

A FMD outbreak would be disastrous for Australia’s livestock industry and could wipe out an estimated $80b from the industry over ten years.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s contract is the continuation of a long-standing partnership to strengthen FMD preparedness marking 20 years of working collaboratively to ensure Australia is well prepared to respond to an outbreak of FMD, with antigen and vaccine supply capability a crucial component of any response.

As the global leader in FMD vaccine development and manufacturing, Boehringer Ingelheim maintains 13 banks around the world that can be used by a significant number of countries and organisations in the event of an outbreak.

Boehringer to continues to stand ready to protect Australia’s livestock industry and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Animal Health Australia.

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