Global Security Newswire

Government auditors have determined that one of Australia’s heavily populated states might not be equipped to adequately handle dangerous disease outbreaks, the Australian Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Oct. 27).

Victoria’s lack of preparation to deal with major biological threats was revealed last year when a horse flu epidemic swept through the states of Queensland and neighboring New South Wales, the Victorian auditor general said in a report to lawmakers.

Victoria’s Primary Industries Department narrowly prevented the disease from entering the state, but the agency’s access to personnel and other resources dwindled as it fought to contain the disease.

"This raises concern about DPI's capacity and capability to sustain their response in a prolonged or large outbreak,” the report states. “National simulation exercises have also highlighted that a major emergency will quickly exhaust the pool of trained staff."

"DPI had limited capacity to provide additional staff to other states given the need to protect Victoria from disease, whilst other states combating the outbreak were not able to supply additional staff to Victoria," the report adds (Catherine Best, Australian Associated Press/Sydney Morning Herald, Nov. 12).