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The Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO) and the Animal Health Policy branch, in conjunction with other areas of the department, are responsible for developing policy and providing scientific advice on animal health matters, including:
This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Government Partnerships for Development Program and it will be delivered in Timor Leste from March 2014 to June 2016.
Australia’s animal health laboratories seek to sustain and improve the quality of terrestrial and aquatic animal health to assure domestic and international market access through the development and application of best practice to veterinary laboratory services.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australia’s favourable animal health status is underpinned by our freedom from many economically important diseases that occur in other parts of the world. Surveillance is a key component of Australia’s animal health system.
Effective surveillance:
Strategic foresight provides the tools for early identification of emerging trends, for analysis and interpretation, and for developing a range of options and identifying preferred responses.
Australia is one of the few countries in the world that remains free of rabies.
If rabies became established in Australia, the toll on human and animal health would be profound and the cost of response and elimination immense.
At least 60,000 people die from rabies each year, with the majority of these deaths occurring in Africa and Asia. Over 99% of these cases are caused by bites from infected dogs. Vaccination of dogs is the proven way of preventing human exposure and eliminating disease at source in rabies endemic countries.
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), or calicivirus is a virus that typically causes a rapidly fatal disease in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). There are three types of RHDV present in Australia (RHDV1, RHDV1a and RHDV2).
The classical RHDV1 strain was first released in Australia in 1996 to control wild rabbits.
A quick reference guide to Understanding the MARS Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) is now available: Quick Reference Guide: Understanding the BSD.
Specific health risks are posed by international travellers (passengers and crew) arriving in Australia. These risks could have a devastating effect on the Australian community and economy. Effective human biosecurity practices are essential in protecting Australia from serious communicable diseases.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry performs human health functions on behalf of the Department of Health and Aged Care at Australia’s international air and sea ports.
