National Arbovirus Monitoring Program

What is the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program?

The National Arbovirus Monitoring Program (NAMP) monitors the distribution of economically important arboviruses (i.e. insect-borne viruses) of livestock and their vectors in Australia. These viruses include bluetongue, Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF). NAMP is jointly funded by its primary beneficiaries, including the cattle, sheep and goat industries, livestock exporters, and the state, territory and Australian governments.

What are the objectives of NAMP?

Trade support
To facilitate the export of live sheep, goats and cattle to countries sensitive to bluetongue, Akabane and BEF viruses by providing scientific information for the development of export protocols and to meet export certification requirements.

Bluetongue early warning
To detect incursions of exotic strains of bluetongue virus and Culicoides species into Australia by surveillance of the northern bluetongue virus endemic area.

Risk management
To detect changes in the seasonal distribution in Australia of endemic bluetongue, Akabane and BEF viruses and their vectors, in support of livestock exporters and producers.

How does NAMP operate?

NAMP data are gathered by serological monitoring of cattle located in sentinel herds, and by strategic serological surveys of cattle herds, throughout Australia.

Groups of young cattle, previously unexposed to arboviral infection, are blood tested at regular intervals to detect evidence of prior infection or transmission of bluetongue, Akabane and BEF viruses. Insect traps positioned near the monitored herds indicate whether Culicoides vectors are present during the period of testing.

The limits of bluetongue virus transmission are shown on the interactive bluetongue zone map. The zone map is based on OIE guidelines and defines areas in which no viral activity has been detected for at least the past two years. As the map is updated in response to new monitoring information, it is subject to change without notice. Users are advised to refer to this web site whenever making decisions or recommendations related to bluetongue zoning.

Annual monitoring data, describing the limits of vector and virus distribution and the free areas for bluetongue, Akabane and BEF viruses are provided in the NAMP Annual Reports. Interim reports are produced in the second and fourth issues of Animal Health Surveillance Quarterly.

NAMP Annual Report

NAMP Annual Report 2008-09 (703 KB)

Archive

You can view previous NAMP Annual Reports and 'The history of bluetongue, Akabane and ephemeral fever viruses and their vectors in Australia, 1975-1999' at the NAMP Archived Reports page.

Related link

National Arboviral and Malaria Surveillance of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Page Updated: 16 December 2009