Animal diseases threaten the UK for two main reasons: firstly, because of the potential for some diseases to spread from animals to humans and cause illness or fatalities; and secondly, because they affect the animals on which we rely for food, trade or to maintain the ecosystem.
The early reporting of any suspicion of animal disease is vital. If you have concerns about the health of your animals, discuss them with your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect a notifiable disease, you should immediately report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. You can also sign up to the Alerts Service to keep up to date with the latest news.
Useful contacts
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA): 03000 200 301
NHS non-emergency number (human symptoms): 111
For emergencies: 999
Further information
- Animal and Plant Health Agency
- For further guidance specific to animal health monitoritng and disease notification, check the Animal and Plant Health Policy.
- Notification duties of farmers