Emergency Animal Diseases

Emergency animal diseases can cause serious consequences to industries, communities and people.

For example, the equine influenza outbreak in New South Wales and Queensland during 2007-2008 cost Australian governments at least $350 million in direct costs. It also cost an additional $1.5 billion in indirect costs to the horse industry and the nation.

Should Australia experience a large foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in several states, the cost to the nation has been estimated at more than $80 billion over 10 years. In addition to the response costs borne by governments and industry, an outbreak would take a massive toll on agricultural communities and businesses in rural and regional Australia. Disease threats to animals are serious and potentially expensive to the Australian economy and to people’s livelihoods.

Australia has a detailed plan for responding to emergency disease outbreaks called AUSVETPLAN. This plan has been used in recent years to respond to equine influenza and Hendra virus outbreaks.

The online training that is currently available for veterinary teams includes: 

• The Emergency Animal Disease Foundation courses - found at the Animal Health Australia 
• Emergency Animal Disease Surveillance Online Training 
• Foot-and-mouth disease online training for veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals 
• Lumpy skin disease awareness program – found at Mintrac 

The  following are excellent resources for all vets performing disease investigations

Emergency animal diseases field guide for Australian veterinarians

Emergency animal diseases glovebox guide for veterinarians 

The AVA and ACV has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to produce a differential diagnosis for Lumpy Skin Disease chart. A similar chart for foot-and-mouth disease is in the works. 

The  AVA Emergency Animal Disease site and the associated Lumpy Skin Disease page and Foot and Mouth Disease page contain updates and links to numerous useful resources. These pages will be updated as information comes to hand. We will also continue to keep AVA members informed of our advocacy in this space.