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Endemic disease control and regulation in Australia 1901–2010
Author(s) -
Turner AJ
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2011.00811.x
Subject(s) - livestock , animal health , commonwealth , preparedness , veterinary medicine , quarantine , medicine , biology , geography , political science , ecology , archaeology , law
At Federation in 1901, Australia retained separate State veterinary services responsible for the control of endemic animal diseases. By 2010 the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and the livestock industries had coordinated a structure with supporting activities and shared finances that provides Australia's veterinary services and its livestock industries with preparedness and control programs for nominated exotic and endemic animal diseases. Animal Health Australia operates as the coordinating body for these programs. Since 1901, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis have been eradicated, providing considerable industry benefits. While the entry of exotic diseases has been restricted, tick fevers, tick infestation, bluetongue infection, avirulent and velogenic Newcastle disease, Hendra virus, lyssavirus infection and Menagle virus infection have arisen from either hosts within Australia or from insect incursion from neighbouring countries. The control of endemic livestock diseases has been accompanied by the development of veterinary laboratory services by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments. The Australian Animal Health Laboratory operating since 1985 in Geelong has ensured Australia remains at the forefront of technological advances in veterinary diagnostic techniques. From the 1970s animal welfare has become an important component of national initiatives that remain focussed on satisfying community and international expectations.