Biosecurity 3b: Introduction to notifiable diseases

Question 1

How Government works in regards to biosecurity

Answer 1

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA
Chief Veterinary Officer for UK
Animal & Plant Health Agency

Question 2

Notifiable diseases and the law

Answer 2

Notifiable diseases are diseases which the law requires you to report to the Government

Covered by the Animal Health Act 1981 in GB (Amended by Animal Health Act 2002)

Legally obliged to report to the Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) [DAERA in NI], even if only suspect that an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease

Question 3

Animal health legislation

Answer 3

An important piece of legislation relating to animal health is the Animal Health Act 1981

Most of this legislation is aimed at the control of notifiable diseases and various Orders are made relating to specific diseases as required

Question 4

Animal Health Act 1981: key provisions

Answer 4

Detection of disease: notification by keeper to authorities

Investigation/restriction/quarantine of the infected premises

Require slaughter with financial compensation

Disposal of carcasses

Cleansing and disinfection requirement

Question 5

The European Union dimension: legislation

Answer 5

EU legislation has effectively been transposed into UK law since Brexit

Foot and Mouth Disease – Directive 2003/85/EC

African Swine Fever – Directive 2002/60/EC

Bovine TB – Directives 64/432/EEC, 77/391/EEC

Avian influenza – Directive 2005/94/EC

Question 6

Important notifiable diseases (Farm

Answer 6

Anthrax (last in GB 2015 – Wiltshire)

Bovine TB (endemic – ongoing problem)

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) – peak >37,000 reported cases 1992 – last confirmed GB in 2018 (1 case in Scotland)

Bluetongue (GB 2007):
Foot and Mouth Disease (last in GB 2007)

Classical Swine Fever (CSF) (pigs) (last in GB 2000)

Newcastle Disease (poultry) (last in GB 2006 – game birds)

Avian Influenza (poultry) - constant threat to commercial poultry

Question 7

Endemic diseases

Answer 7

already present in the UK e.g. bovine TB

Question 8

Exotic (Epizootic) diseases

Answer 8

not normally present in the UK e.g. Foot and Mouth Disease, Bluetongue, CSF, African Swine Fever

Question 9

Notifiable diseases: why notifiable?

Answer 9

Trade implications – international restrictions and huge economic impacts

National and international eradication programmes

Animal welfare implications - prevent suffering

Public Health - some can pass between animals and humans (zoonoses) e.g. rabies, bTB, avian influenza, brucellosis

Implications for wider society e.g. FMD in 2001

Question 10

Wahis Interface – Global Animal Health

Answer 10

Global disease information

Outbreak maps

Disease information

Control measures

Question 11

Foot and Mouth Disease spread in GB, 2001

Answer 11

A huge epidemic from a point source in Northumberland, ne England

Extremely rapid spread: from Feb 2001 until Sept 2001

Aerosol spread, animal transportation – widely diffused

6 million animals slaughtered: (4M for disease control, 2M for welfare

Question 12

Bluetongue in the UK

Answer 12

Sept. 2007 – Highland cow in East Anglia - first detected case

Serotype BTV-8 detected

Windborne spread of infected midges

By March 2008 – confirmed on 125 holdings in eastern and southern England

Question 13

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Answer 13

(HPAI) H5N1 - first case in UK found in dead swan, Fife, Scotland – April 2006
Two types – LPAI or HPAI (low pathogenic or highly pathogenic AI)

• 2015 in poultry in England – both types:

Jan 2015 – LPAI in Hampshire

Aug 2015 - HPAI in Lancashire

• 2016 – 2017 – multiple outbreaks in poultry across England

2018 – wild bird isolations – constant threat to poultry

2019 – LPAI in Suffolk – broiler breeders

2021 – HPAI H5N8 in poultry in Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
Tends to present as:

Increased mortality - sudden deaths

Reduced egg production
Respiratory signs
Excessive lacrimation
Sinusitis
Oedema of head and face
Subcutaneous haemorrhage
Diarrhoea
Sometimes nervous signs

Question 14

Classical Swine Fever

Answer 14

Highly contagious, easily spread between farms
High morbidity and mortality

Fever – dull pigs, huddling, anorexic
Conjunctivitis
Reddening of the skin
Nervous signs – convulsions, swaying gait, leaning
Constipation, then diarrhoea

East Anglia 2000 – 16 farms affected with CSF
Initial source? Probable infected pork product of unknown origin – biosecurity implications

Question 15

What to do with a suspect of notifiable disease

Answer 15

Always report suspicions immediately to the DEFRA Rural Services Helpline/local APHA office:

Question 16

APHA report follow-up

Answer 16

Report received at APHA/DAERA animal health office/helpline

State vets will visit farm/abattoir to investigate asap

Take history, examine: suspects – take samples

State vet puts restrictions on the premises – stop movement - aim to stop spread

5. Restrictions remain in place until notifiable disease is ruled out. Movement tracings urgent.

Question 17

APHA notifications of outbreaks – national and international

Answer 17

Cabinet Office

OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health)

European Commission

Police

Local authorities

National and international media

Question 18

Epizootic disease threat

Answer 18

Illegal importation of animal products/animals

Borders with EU

Global movement of people – anywhere in 24 hrs

Outdoor production – biosecurity risks

Transportation of animals – across EU

Waste human food being fed to livestock