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Pseudogymnoascus destructans
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is one of Australia’s higher-risk exotic environmental diseases. WNS is a fungal disease that affects hibernating bats, leading to high mortality.
Veterinary Schools of Australia and New Zealand published a review of veterinary education on their website. The report makes 25 recommendations aimed at veterinary schools, universities, accrediting bodies, veterinary professional associations, and governments.
Project Lead: Veterinary Schools of Australia and New Zealand
Project Contact: eo@vsanz.org.au
Project Status: Complete
Objective alignment:
The pig biosecurity project is a joint initiative funded by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA) and Pork South Australia (SA) via the SA Pig Industry Fund. The partnership is part of broader government and industry initiatives to enhance biosecurity preparedness for emergency animal diseases (EADs) across the pork supply chain. The goal is to support market access and business continuity.
AgriFutures Australia funded a consultancy to investigate traceability options for the deer industry. This project was completed in June 2024.
Project Lead: AgriFutures Australia
Project Contact: animalplan@aff.gov.au
Project Status: Complete
Objective alignment:
Activity alignment:
Animal Health Australia (AHA) developed the National Biosecurity Manual for the Ratite Industry. It was funded by AgriFutures and in collaboration with ratite industries.
The manual was published in September 2023.
Project Lead: AHA
Project Contact: aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Project Status: Complete
Objective alignment:
The AUSVETPLAN Management manual: Laboratory preparedness has been updated by the AUSVETPLAN technical writing group. It also has support from the Laboratories for Emergency Animal Disease Diagnosis and Response network and the Subcommittee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards.
The manual was endorsed by Animal Health Committee in April 2024 and published on the Animal Health Australia website.
Project Lead: Animal Health Australia
Animal Health Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia funded the development of an app, Sheep EAD AR. This app is available in the Apple, Google play and Microsoft App Stores.
Producers and other stakeholders can use the app on mobile devices and the HoloLens to identify signs of FMD, bluetongue, scrapie and sheep pox.
Project Lead: Animal Health Australia
Project Contact: aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
The department delivered Exercise Paratus – a multiyear exercise program. It aimed to enhance Australia’s capability to respond to current and emerging biosecurity threats.
The objectives of the exercise were to:
Animal Health Australia (AHA) developed and led Exercise Milky Way. It was a joint industry and government exercise to test the raw milk movement controls from the AUSVETPLAN Response strategy: Foot-and-mouth disease Version 5.3.
The simulation exercise was conducted from 28 August to 15 September 2023. The key outcomes were:
In 2023, AUSVETPLAN Response strategy: Lumpy skin disease Version 5.1 was published on the AHA website. Updates included relevant learnings from Exercise LSD2, a government and industry exercise held in December 2022 to test components of the previous version of the AUSVETPLAN Response strategy: Lumpy skin disease.
Project Lead: AHA
Project Contact: aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Project Status: Complete
