Notifiable Diseases

• What is a notifiable disease?

  A legal requirement to report the disease outbreak to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Including any suspicion of disease even if unsure.
• Rabies

  Virus that attacks nervous system through bites of infected

  Signs- behaviour change, aggression, sensitive to light, fever, paralysis of jaw, foaming mouth

  Treatment- No cure

  Prevention-

  Vaccinations are most effective

  Avoid wild animals

  Pet travel rules - quarantining

  If do not recover from symptoms- euthanasia is required
• Avian flu- ‘bird flu’ 


  Virus transmitted directly through birds of bodily fluids

  Not airborne

  Signs-

  Swollen head, breathing issues, coughing, sneezing, blue tinge to head, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, fewer laid eggs

  Treatment-

  Low pathogenicity- get better alone

  High pathogenicity- Can be deadly but no cure

  Prevention-

  Vaccines are developed but uncertain effectiveness

  Highly infectious so prevent contact with infected birds, wild birds.

  Isolation is needed and areas should be cleaned and disinfected
• Swine flu

  Virus spread through pigs directly and airborne

  Signs-

  Breathing difficulties, coughing, sneezing, reduced appetite, weight loss

  Treatment -

  Rarely fatal, treatment is limited to rest and recuperation

  Prevention-

  Vaccinations aren’t as effective due to mutation in virus causing different strains.

  Preventing contact between infected and cleaning and disinfecting areas
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)- mad cow disease


  Affects nervous system

  Signs -

  Loss of muscle control, balance and coordination problems or behavioural mood

  Long incubation period so symptoms may not appear till years later.

  Treatment-

  No cure

  Prevention-

  Ban on feeding MBM= Meat and bone meal of infected or non-infected cows and sheep.

  Strict rules on disposal of carcasses in slaughterhouses.
• Tuberculosis

  Bacterial disease - Airborne transmission and can lead to death if untreated

  Symptoms- take time to develop

  Loss of appetite, fever, diarrhoe, prominent lymph nodes

  Treatment-Rarely treated

  Prevention-

  Slaughter of infected animals

  Vaccines are developed but not widespread

  In high risk areas cattle are tested every 4 years
• Blue Tongue 


  Viral disease transmitted by midge bites- most common in sheep/ruminants

  Signs- fever, swollen face, nasal discharge, salivation, foot lesions, blue tongue

  Treatment- none available

  Prevention-

  Vaccination and quarantine of infected and control of midge which is the vector
• Foot and Mouth

  Infectious viral disease

  Affecting Hoofed animals like sheep. cattle, goats, pigs etc.

  Spread directly through airborne or fomites

  Rarely fatal

  Symptoms -

  Fever, blisters in mouth, excessive salivation, drooling, blisters on feet

  Treatment- None

  Prevention- Vaccinations (not always effective)

  Quarantine and disinfection are applied to affected farms and aniamls are eventually culled.
• Newcastle Disease


  Infectious Viral disease affecting birds, spread directly with infected birds and body fluids and fomites.

  May lead to death in acute cases

  Signs -

  Breathing difficulties, coughing, depressed appearance, twisted head/neck, reduced egg production.

  No Treatment

  Prevention-

  Vaccination and isolation of infected
• Equine Infectious Anaemia

  Viral disease affecting horses

  Transmitted by blood with biting horseflies acting as vectors

  Passed on by sharing syringes when administering vaccines or treatment.

  Female can also pass to unborn foals, acute form leads to death.

  Signs-

  Fever, tiredness, weigh loss, weakness, depressed behaviour, appetite loss and anaemia

  No treatment

  Prevention-

  Use disposable needles, limit contact with wild animals, isolate immediately and infected animals are destroyed to prevent further outbreak