practitioners with the knowledge and Sciences estimated that an outbreak and tools to be confident about in Australia could cost the economy up to considering EADs as differential $50 billion over 10 years. The Australian diagnoses and taking appropriate action Government Department of Agriculture and build networks between EAD response Water Resources is working with the EuFMD agencies and the private sector. to build a network of veterinarians, animal health professionals, producers and industry Private veterinary practitioners play an workers across Australia with experience in essential role in the detection of potential the disease, to increase the likelihood of early EADs. Training opportunities such as this detection should an incursion occur, as well workshop provide a valuable tool in building as enhance Australia’s response capability. skills and awareness within the veterinary profession. Victorian emergency animal welfare plan The workshop was sponsored by DEDJTR and supported by the CSIRO Australian An important and growing area of animal Animal Health Laboratory (CSIRO-AAHL). welfare policy relates to animals in emergencies. In 2015, DEDJTR led the Foot-and-mouth disease training in Nepal review of the Victorian emergency animal welfare plan. This was the plan’s review During 2015, two DEDJTR animal health since it was created in 2011. The review staff travelled to Nepal to participate in ‘real- included aligning the plan with the Emergency time’ FMD training, hosted by the European and the revised management manual Victoria Commission for the Control of Victorian emergency framework. Disease (EuFMD), a commission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the DEDJTR contributed to developing and United Nations. The training provided reviewing extension materials relating to experience in clinical investigation, sampling animals in emergencies and hot weather, and laboratory diagnosis of FMD, and including media releases and social media epidemiological assessment of disease messaging consistent with that of other state spread and control. and territory emergency agencies. FMD poses the largest, most economically DEDJTR manages a database of devastating threat to Australia’s livestock nongovernment organisations with capabilities industries. In 2013, the Australian Bureau and resources to assist in an emergency of Agricultural and Resource Economics
practitioners with the knowledge and tools to be confident about considering EADs as differential diagnoses and taking appropriate action build networks between EAD response agencies and the private sector. Private veterinary practitioners play an essential role in the detection of potential EADs. Training opportunities such as this workshop provide a valuable tool in building skills and awareness within the veterinary profession. The workshop was sponsored by DEDJTR and supported by the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (CSIRO-AAHL). Foot-and-mouth disease training in Nepal During 2015, two DEDJTR animal health staff travelled to Nepal to participate in ‘real- time’ FMD training, hosted by the European Commission for the Control of Disease (EuFMD), a commission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The training provided experience in clinical investigation, sampling and laboratory diagnosis of FMD, and epidemiological assessment of disease spread and control. FMD poses the largest, most economically devastating threat to Australia’s livestock industries. In 2013, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences estimated that an outbreak in Australia could cost the economy up to $50 billion over 10 years. The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is working with the EuFMD to build a network of veterinarians, animal health professionals, producers and industry workers across Australia with experience in the disease, to increase the likelihood of early detection should an incursion occur, as well as enhance Australia’s response capability. Victorian emergency animal welfare plan An important and growing area of animal welfare policy relates to animals in emergencies. In 2015, DEDJTR led the review of the Victorian emergency animal welfare plan. This was the plan’s review since it was created in 2011. The review included aligning the plan with the Emergency management manual Victoria and the revised Victorian emergency framework. DEDJTR contributed to developing and reviewing extension materials relating to animals in emergencies and hot weather, including media releases and social media messaging consistent with that of other state and territory emergency agencies. DEDJTR manages a database of nongovernment organisations with capabilities and resources to assist in an emergency
Animal-Health-in-Victoria-2015.docx