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Specific Animal Health Diseases

Specific Disease Control

The Government has produced various legislation with regards to specific diseases, their control methods and procedures to follow if you notice them in an animal.

This section is ever-expanding as new diseases or problems come to light and the best practices for dealing with them are produced. Current policies, guidance and legislation on specific diseases are listed below. There are also general disease controls available on this site.

Avian Influenza (AI)

A contagious disease which can cause high mortality in all bird species. Should an outbreak of Avian Influenza occur in Great Britain, it would most likely be through direct contact with wild birds, in particular their faeces.

Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a notifiable insect-borne viral disease that affects all ruminants, such as cattle, goat, deer and, in particular, sheep.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

One of a group of diseases known as TSEs. Present in cattle and with the possibility it could transfer to others, particularly sheep.

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB)

A cattle disease that can be passed to humans. The bacterium causes Tuberculis lesions on tissues.

Brucellosis

This disease causes abortion and early calvings, primarily seen in cattle.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Another member of the TSEs, this is not widely known and affects deer. Not yet witnessed in Britain.

Classical Swine Fever (CSF)

A highly contagious viral disease of pigs with high mortality rates, affecting both domestic and feral pigs. Poses no risk to humans.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

Foot and Mouth Disease ( FMD) is caused by a highly infectious virus and among farm stock, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer are susceptible. Elephants, camelids, hedgehogs, rats and any cloven-footed animals can also contract it.

Foul Brood

A notifiable disease of honeybees which is caused by bacterium.

Johne's Disease

Johne's disease, or paratuberculosis, is widespread in the major dairying areas of the world, and is an infectious wasting condition of cattle and other ruminants. It is closely related to the organism that causes tuberculosis.

Newcastle Disease

A highly contagious disease of birds caused by parmyxo virus. Poses no risk to humans.

Salmonella

A bacterial cause of food-poisoning worldwide, with some types of salmonellae affecting humans as well as animals.

Scrapie

The main TSE that affects sheep, though is now rare thanks to efforts such as the National Scrapie Plan.

Swine Influenza in pigs

Swine Influenza is an acute, highly contagious, respiratory disease that results from infection with type A influenza virus.

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Page updated: Monday, August 3, 2009