Diseases

Notifiable Diseases

A Notifiable Disease is a disease named in Section 88 of The Animal Health Act 1981 or an order made under that Act.

Section 15 (1) of the Act says that; "any person having in their possession or under their charge, an animal infected or suspected of having one of these diseases must, with all practicable speed, notify that fact to a Police Constable".

In practice, if you suspect signs of any of the 38 listed Notifiable Diseases you must notify a Defra Divisional Veterinary Manager. A list of Notifiable Diseases can be found on the DEFRA website.

Zoonoses

Zoonoses are defined by the World Health Organisation as; "Diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man".

A Zoonotic agent may be a bacterium, virus, fungus, parasite or other communicable agent. Zoonoses cover a broad range of diseases with different clinical and epidemiological features and control measures.

For more information on Zoonoses refer to the DEFRA website.