Managing Outbreaks of Exotic Disease
Animal Health implements and enforces English, Scottish, Welsh and European Union policies in Great Britain that seek to
- Prevent, control and where feasible eradicate notifiable diseases
- prevent notifiable animal diseases from entering the human food chain and endangering public health, the economy and rural community
- promote the welfare of farmed animals; and
- control the international movement of animals and animal products.
Suspicion of exotic notifiable disease must be made to the local Animal Health Divisional Office as soon as possible.
A notifiable disease is one which, if suspecteed or identified, must by law be notified to the veterinary authorities. Disease can be either endemic, meaning that they are continually present, such as tuberculosis in cattle, or exotic, meaning that they are not normally found in Great Britain, such as avian influenza or foot and mouth disease. Some exotic diseases (' zoonoses ') are infectious to man and we therefore work closely with the public health authorities to ensure the risk to human health is minimised. Animal Health works closely with private vets and owners of animals in England, Scotland and Wales, encouraging them to report any suspected infection. We investigate all reported cases ourselves.
Animal Health has contingency plans to respond quickly to such reports and take appropriate action. These plans are regularly tested and evaluated.
International controls
At ports and airports we inspect imported livestock that might pose a risk and keep records of where the animals are transported to ensure they can be traced if required.
We also operate the pet passport scheme and the quarantine system. These programmes ensure that companion animals (pets, horses etc), as well as certain birds and animals destined for zoos or circuses, do not bring disease into Britain .
For more information:
- Avian Influenza (bird flu)
- Bluetongue
- Foot and Mouth disease
- Classical Swine Fever
- Newcastle disease
List of notifiable diseases and factsheets
Page last modified: 2 April 2007
Page published: 2 April 2007