The Animal Health Surveillance Newsletter is a quarterly report on a portion of the animal disease investigations conducted by the government veterinary service of NSW. It contains case reports and information provided by the District Veterinarians of Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), who together form the government veterinary service of NSW.

The NSW DPI is obliged under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to detect and manage notifiable animal disease outbreaks. This obligation is met by government veterinary officers being required to investigate potential notifiable disease outbreaks and unusual diseases that may be new, emerging or difficult to diagnose. They also conduct targeted surveillance projects, inspections of stock at saleyards and monitoring of compliance programs.

The desired outcome is the early detection of notifiable diseases, including exotics, and thus minimisation of negative impacts, and accurate, verifiable data on the animal disease and pest status of NSW. Reports are collated at the state level, for subsequent official reporting to the National Animal Health Information System (NAHIS), which is managed by Animal Health Australia.

The NSW surveillance program is supported by Laboratory Services at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) and by research staff who design and improve diagnostic tests and, working with field veterinarians, investigate the epidemiology of diseases that may have significant biosecurity impacts.

If you would like to receive a snapshot insight into what’s happening on the ground in animal health surveillance around NSW, please email ofir.schwarzmann@dpi.nsw.gov.au to be added to the mailing list. Please advise if you would prefer to receive a hard copy or electronic version and provide relevant details accordingly.