What is an emergency animal disease?

An outbreak of a serious emergency animal disease can be disastrous for producers, causing significant personal stress and anguish as well as financial hardship. The livestock industries can lose sales opportunities both domestically and internationally in the wake of a damaged reputation for our produce, and the broader Australian economy could lose billions in trade and employment.

What is an emergency animal disease?

An emergency animal disease (EAD) is one that is likely to have a significant effect on livestock -  potentially resulting in livestock deaths, production loss and in some cases impacts on human health and the environment.

Diseases such as foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease are obvious examples of emergency animal disease. However, the definition also includes unusual, severe outbreaks of established diseases which may cause sudden trade disruptions - such as the 1997 anthrax outbreaks in Victoria. It also includes new diseases where it is not immediately apparent what the disease is - such as the occurrence of Hendra virus in Queensland in 1994.

An emergency animal disease meets one or more of the following criteria:

• It is a known disease that does not occur in Australia, and for which it is considered to be in the national interest for the country to be free of the disease
• It is a variation of an endemic (established) disease which - if it became widespread here - would have a national impact
• It is a serious infectious disease of unknown or uncertain cause, which may be an entirely new disease
• It is a known endemic disease, but is occurring in such a severe outbreak form, that an emergency response is required to ensure that there is neither a large scale epidemic of national significance or serious loss of market access

For further information visit: www.outbreak.gov.au, AUSVETPLAN, EADRA.

What are the main emergency animal diseases (EADs) that could affect me?

There are a number of different types of diseases that are not present in Australian livestock. Some major diseases of concern include:

Alpacas - foot and mouth disease (FMD), rabies, anthrax 

Cattle - FMD, 'mad cow' disease (BSE), screw worm fly, rinderpest

Sheep/goats - FMD, sheep pox, scrapie, bluetongue

Pigs - FMD, classical swine fever, African swine fever, Aujeszky's disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)

Chickens- avian influenza, virulent Newcastle disease

Horses - Hendra virus, equine influenza, contagious equine metritis, glanders

Bees - varroa mite, tracheal mite, tropilaelaps mite

There are many other diseases which would have a serious impact if an outbreak was to occur. For a full list of diseases in AUSVETPLAN (the Australian Veterinary emergency plan) see the AHA website

Good farm biosecurity should be used to protect your livestock from the risks of an emergency animal disease.

Who should I contact if I suspect an outbreak of a serious livestock disease?

Early intervention is vital in an emergency animal disease outbreak! If you suspect a pest or disease outbreak or have seen something unusual and you're not sure whether it's an exotic pest or disease - report it! Don't worry how insignificant it may be - small signs may be an early indication that something's wrong.

Your suspicions of a serious livestock disease must be reported to your local government or private vet or a stock inspector, or you can call the free Emergency Disease Watch Hotline - 1800 675 888. The hotline operates to assist the early reporting of emergency animal diseases.