Notifiable Diseases
Early recognition of a serious or exotic animal disease is one of the most important factors influencing the chance of controlling the disease and reducing its economic and social impact on the whole community.
Government recognises this issue by defining some animal diseases as “notifiable diseases”. These are animal diseases that when suspected by owners, vets or laboratories must be reported to an Inspector of Livestock within a defined timeframe.
Notifiable diseases are defined under the Livestock Disease Control Act (1994), and the obligations of livestock owners, vets, laboratories and others are outlined in the Act and its associated regulations and orders.
The listed diseases are broken up into three groups
- Exotic diseases of mammals, birds, fish and bees
These are diseases that do not normally occur in Australia. If any of these diseases is suspected a person must notify an Inspector of Livestock without delay and by the quickest means possible. The easiest way to do this is to ring the Disease Watch Hotline - 1800 675 888 (24 hours a day, every day of the year). - Diseases of mammals, birds and bees that must be reported within 12 hours.
These are serious but not exotic diseases. If any of these diseases is suspected a person must notify the
Manager of Animal Standards
Department of Primary Industries,
Telephone: 1800 675 888 (24 hours a day)
Fax: (03) 5430 4520
- Diseases of mammals, birds, bees and fish that must be reported within 7 days.
These are important but less serious diseases. If any of these diseases is suspected a person must notify the Department of Primary Industries using a Form for Providing Notification to DPI and post or fax to:
Manager Animal Standards
Department of Primary Industries
PO Box 2500
Bendigo, VIC, 3554
FAX: (03) 5430 4520 - List of Notifiable Diseases in Victoria
Summary of changes made in November 2011
Changes have been made to mirror the national notifiable disease list terminology and to add diseases as agreed by Animal Health Committee.
The endemic disease list has been revised to reflect that bovine tuberculosis is now an exotic disease. The other endemic diseases remain the same, although Johne’s disease is now referenced as paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease).
The exotic disease list has had three new diseases added: epizootic haemorrhagic disease (clinical disease), enzootic abortion of ewes and turkey rhinotracheitis (avian metapneumovirus). Avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma synoviae) has been removed. Other diseases remain the same, but may have been grouped together, for example the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or split into syndrome versus agent, for example mucosal disease (endemic) now has bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 2 added in the exotics list.
For more information contact your local DPI Veterinary Officer or Animal Health officer.
Related Information
- Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV)
- Aquatic Animal Diseases Significant to Australia: Identification Field Guide
- Bovine Johne's disease (BJD)
- Brain Removal in Sheep and Cattle for TSE Surveillance
- Lead Poisoning in Livestock
- The Victorian Enzootic Bovine Leucosis Eradication Program -A guide for vets (Appendix 1)
- Ovine Johne's Disease
