Recognise and report notifiable animal diseases

Notifiable animal diseases are serious or highly contagious diseases that pose significant threats to animal health, public health, or the economy. If you suspect a notifiable disease in your livestock, you must report it immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)—failure to report is a criminal offence.

Early detection and rapid reporting are critical for controlling outbreaks. Even if you're unsure whether symptoms indicate a notifiable disease, report your suspicions. APHA would rather investigate a false alarm than discover an unreported outbreak days later.

What are notifiable diseases?

Notifiable diseases are specified under the Animal Health Act 1981 and related legislation. They include exotic diseases not normally present in the UK (such as foot-and-mouth disease) and endemic diseases requiring active control measures (such as bovine tuberculosis).

There are over 80 notifiable diseases affecting various species. This guide focuses on the most common and economically significant diseases that livestock keepers are likely to encounter.

Why immediate reporting matters

Rapid containment: Early reporting allows APHA to impose movement restrictions before disease spreads to other holdings
Protects the national herd/flock: Controls prevent widespread outbreaks that could devastate UK agriculture
Trade protection: Demonstrating disease control maintains UK export status and trading relationships
Compensation eligibility: Farmers who report promptly and comply with restrictions are eligible for compensation if animals are culled
Legal obligation: Failure to report is a prosecutable offence with potential imprisonment and unlimited fines

How to report a suspected notifiable disease

If you suspect a notifiable disease, follow these steps immediately:

1. Isolate affected animals

Separate visibly sick animals from the rest of your stock if you can do so safely. Prevent contact with other livestock, people, and vehicles. Do NOT move animals off the holding.

2. Stop all movements on and off the holding

Implement a voluntary movement standstill. Do not move any livestock, equipment, vehicles, or people on or off the holding unless absolutely essential. This prevents potential disease spread while awaiting APHA investigation.

3. Call APHA immediately

APHA helpline: 03000 200 301 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

This number is answered around the clock. Explain:

Your name, holding address, and CPH number
Which species are affected and how many animals show symptoms
What symptoms you've observed
When symptoms first appeared
Any recent animal movements on or off the holding

4. Follow APHA instructions

APHA will send a veterinary officer to inspect your animals, usually within hours for high-priority diseases. Follow all instructions given by APHA, including movement restrictions, biosecurity measures, and sampling procedures.

5. Do NOT call your private vet first

Contact APHA directly, not your private veterinarian. Your vet cannot diagnose notifiable diseases officially—only APHA veterinary officers can do this. However, if your vet notices suspicious symptoms during a routine visit, they are legally required to report to APHA and will do so on your behalf.

Major notifiable diseases by species

The following sections cover the most significant notifiable diseases livestock keepers should watch for. This is not exhaustive—see the full list at GOV.UK.

Notifiable Animal Diseases

Diseases that must be reported immediately to APHA

Suspected notifiable diseases must be reported to APHA immediately. Failure to report is a criminal offence.

APHA helpline: 03000 200 301 (England) - call immediately if you suspect notifiable disease
Bovine TB: Compulsory testing required - positive animals slaughtered with compensation
Avian influenza (bird flu): Housing orders may be issued during outbreaks - biosecurity mandatory
Foot-and-mouth disease: Immediate standstill and movement ban if suspected
African/Classical swine fever: Notifiable - immediate reporting required
Bluetongue: Vector-borne disease - surveillance zones may apply
Scrapie: TSE disease in sheep/goats - notifiable
What to do if suspected: Do NOT move animals - call APHA immediately - isolate affected animals

Bovine tuberculosis (Bovine TB)

Bovine TB is the most economically significant notifiable disease affecting cattle in England and Wales. It's endemic in certain areas (High-Risk Areas and Edge Areas), requiring regular compulsory testing.

How bovine TB spreads

Cattle-to-cattle contact (respiratory transmission)
Wildlife reservoirs, particularly badgers in endemic areas
Contaminated environment (can survive months in damp conditions)
Shared grazing, water sources, and boundaries with infected herds

Clinical signs (often absent)

Bovine TB is insidious—many infected cattle show no symptoms until advanced stages. Possible signs include:

Progressive weight loss despite adequate feeding
Chronic cough (not responsive to normal treatments)
Enlarged lymph nodes (visible as lumps, particularly in neck)
Difficulty breathing in advanced cases
General poor body condition and ill-thrift

Testing requirements

APHA operates a compulsory TB testing programme:

High-Risk Areas (HRA): Annual testing required
Edge Areas: Testing every 6 months or annually (county-dependent)
Low-Risk Areas (LRA): Testing every 4 years or on specific risk events

You will receive written notice from APHA instructing when to test. You must book a TB tester (approved private vet) within the specified timeframe. Failure to test when required results in movement restrictions on your holding.

What happens if reactors are found

Cattle that react positively to the skin test (called 'reactors') are:

Valued by APHA valuers
Removed for slaughter within specified timeframes
Tested post-mortem to confirm TB presence
Compensated based on pre-movement valuation (market value minus salvage)

Your herd is placed under Official Tuberculosis restrictions (OTF-S or OTF-W status), preventing most movements until the herd passes two consecutive clear tests (typically 60 days apart).

Avian influenza (bird flu)

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease affecting poultry and wild birds. High pathogenicity strains (HPAI) can cause up to 100% mortality in domestic flocks within days. Human infection is rare but possible.

Clinical signs in poultry

Sudden deaths: Multiple birds dying rapidly with no prior illness
Severe respiratory signs: Gasping, coughing, nasal discharge
Swollen head, comb, and wattles: Often dark blue or purple discolouration
Drop in egg production: Sudden cessation of laying, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
Nervous signs: Twisted necks, lack of coordination, convulsions
Diarrhoea: Greenish watery droppings

Reporting thresholds

Report to APHA if you observe:

Increased mortality (especially if sudden and unexplained)
Multiple birds with respiratory or nervous signs
Significant drop in feed or water consumption
Large numbers of wild bird deaths near your flock

Prevention: Biosecurity is critical

Keep poultry away from wild birds (netting, indoor housing during high-risk periods)
Cleanse and disinfect footwear before entering poultry areas
Don't allow visitors into poultry housing unnecessarily
Feed indoors to avoid attracting wild birds
Cover water sources to prevent contamination by wild waterfowl
Monitor wild bird populations for signs of disease or mass mortality events

Housing orders and Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ)

During outbreaks, Defra can issue housing orders requiring all poultry keepers in defined areas to keep birds indoors. Failure to comply is a criminal offence. Check GOV.UK regularly during autumn and winter (high-risk season) for housing order announcements.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most feared livestock diseases. It spreads rapidly between cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, deer) and can devastate agriculture if not controlled immediately. The 2001 UK outbreak resulted in over 6 million animals culled and £8 billion economic damage.

Clinical signs

FMD causes painful blisters (vesicles) in and around the mouth, on feet, and on teats. Key signs include:

Salivation and drooling: Excessive saliva due to painful mouth lesions
Lameness: Animals reluctant to walk due to foot lesions
Blisters and lesions: On tongue, gums, dental pad, hooves, and teats
Fever: High temperature (40-41°C) in early stages
Sudden drop in milk yield: Dramatic decrease in lactating animals
Smacking lips and grinding teeth: Indicative of mouth pain
Trembling and shivering: Especially in young animals

Why FMD is so serious

Highly contagious: Spreads rapidly through direct contact, aerosols, contaminated feed, vehicles, clothing, and equipment
Long-distance spread: Virus can travel several kilometres on the wind
Trade implications: FMD outbreak results in immediate export bans, causing massive economic losses
No effective treatment: Infected animals are culled to prevent spread

What to do if you suspect FMD

IMMEDIATELY:

Stop all livestock movements on and off your holding
Call APHA on 03000 200 301 (do NOT delay)
Prevent all visitors and vehicles entering or leaving the farm
Isolate affected animals if safe to do so
Implement strict biosecurity (boot dips, vehicle cleansing)

APHA will impose an immediate movement ban and send veterinary officers urgently. If FMD is confirmed, extensive control zones (protection zones, surveillance zones, infected areas) are established, potentially affecting thousands of holdings.

African swine fever (ASF) and Classical swine fever (CSF)

Both ASF and CSF are highly contagious viral diseases affecting pigs (domestic and wild). Neither disease affects humans. ASF has been spreading across Europe since 2014, making vigilance critical for UK pig keepers.

Clinical signs (similar for both diseases)

Sudden deaths: Multiple pigs dying rapidly
High fever: 40-42°C, pigs huddled together
Skin discolouration: Purple/blue patches on ears, tail, abdomen, legs
Lethargy and loss of appetite: Pigs lying down, not eating
Respiratory signs: Coughing, difficulty breathing
Diarrhoea and vomiting: Sometimes bloody
Abortion: In pregnant sows
Nervous signs: Inco-ordination, convulsions in some cases

How ASF/CSF spreads

Direct contact with infected pigs or wild boar
Contaminated feed (particularly swill feeding, which is ILLEGAL in the UK)
Contaminated equipment, vehicles, clothing, boots
Infected pork products (ASF virus survives in cured/frozen meat for months)
Ticks (ASF only, in certain geographic areas)

Prevention for pig keepers

Never feed catering waste or swill: This is illegal and a major disease risk
Prevent contact with wild boar: Secure perimeter fencing
Boot/wheel dips at all entry points: Enforce strict biosecurity
Source feed from approved suppliers only
Report any unusual deaths or sickness immediately
Ban staff from bringing pork products from abroad onto the farm

Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting sheep, cattle, goats, and deer, transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides species). It does not affect humans or food safety but can cause severe disease in livestock, particularly sheep.

Clinical signs (primarily in sheep)

Blue tongue: The tongue may turn blue/purple due to lack of oxygen (hence the name)
Swollen, sore mouth and nose: Excessive salivation, nasal discharge
Swollen head and neck: Oedema (fluid swelling) around face and neck
Fever: High temperature
Lameness: Inflammation of the coronary band (top of hooves)
Respiratory distress: Difficulty breathing
Sudden deaths: Particularly in lambs
Abortions: In pregnant ewes

Cattle symptoms (often milder)

Reduced milk yield
Fever and lethargy
Nasal discharge and drooling
Mouth ulcers
Lameness

Bluetongue control zones and vaccination

When bluetongue is detected, APHA establishes restricted zones (RZs) limiting livestock movements. Vaccination programmes may be implemented. Movement restrictions can severely disrupt farming operations, so early reporting and vaccination (where available) are important.

Scrapie (sheep and goats)

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the nervous system of sheep and goats. It's a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), similar to BSE in cattle. Scrapie does not affect humans.

Clinical signs (appear gradually over weeks/months)

Behavioural changes: Nervousness, aggression, or unusual timidity
Excessive scratching and rubbing: Animals scratch against fences, posts (hence 'scrapie')
Wool loss: Fleece damage from scratching, wool easily pulls out
Tremors and twitching: Head bobbing, lip smacking, convulsions
Inco-ordination: Stumbling, difficulty standing, collapse
Weight loss: Progressive wasting despite normal appetite
Teeth grinding

Reporting and control

If you suspect scrapie, report to APHA. Confirmation requires laboratory testing of brain tissue (post-mortem). Scrapie control involves:

Genetic testing: Certain sheep genotypes are resistant to classical scrapie
Selective breeding programmes using scrapie-resistant genetics
Restrictions on movements from infected flocks

The National Scrapie Plan (NSP) encourages breeding for scrapie resistance. Participation is voluntary but provides marketing advantages and reduces disease risk.

What happens when you report a suspected notifiable disease

Step 1: Initial response (same day)

APHA will triage your call and assess the risk level
For high-priority diseases (FMD, avian influenza, swine fever), a veterinary officer is dispatched immediately (often within 2-4 hours)
You'll be given immediate biosecurity instructions
A temporary voluntary movement restriction may be advised

Step 2: Veterinary investigation (within hours to days)

An APHA veterinary officer visits to inspect affected animals
Clinical examination and symptom assessment
Samples taken (blood, swabs, tissue) for laboratory testing
Movement restrictions imposed if suspicion remains high

Step 3: Laboratory testing (1-3 days, sometimes faster)

Samples sent to APHA laboratories for diagnostic testing
Urgent cases (FMD, AI) receive priority processing
You're informed of results as soon as available

Step 4a: Negative result (disease ruled out)

Movement restrictions lifted
You can resume normal operations
APHA may advise on alternative diagnoses and treatments
No penalties for reporting in good faith

Step 4b: Positive result (disease confirmed)

Official Disease Control measures implemented
Control zones established around the infected premise (IP)
Movement bans across affected zones
Potential culling of infected and contact animals (species and disease dependent)
Cleansing and disinfection of premises
Compensation paid for compulsorily slaughtered animals
Restrictions remain until disease is eradicated from the holding and surrounding area

Biosecurity: Preventing notifiable diseases

Preventing disease introduction is far better than dealing with an outbreak. Key biosecurity measures include:

Visitor and vehicle controls

Limit visitors to essential personnel only
Maintain a visitor log (name, date, which livestock areas visited)
Provide clean protective clothing and boot dips for all visitors
Cleanse and disinfect vehicles entering livestock areas
Designate parking areas away from livestock housing

Livestock movements and sourcing

Buy from known, reputable sources with good health status
Isolate new arrivals for 2-3 weeks before mixing with existing stock (if facilities permit)
Check movement documents carefully and report movements promptly
Observe standstill periods after movements

Wildlife and pest control

Prevent contact between livestock and wildlife (especially badgers, wild boar, wild birds)
Store feed securely to avoid attracting wild animals and rodents
Control rodents and birds around feed stores and livestock housing
Fence vulnerable areas to exclude wildlife

Hygiene and cleansing protocols

Use dedicated equipment for each species/group where possible
Cleanse and disinfect equipment between uses
Maintain foot dips with effective disinfectant at building entrances
Regularly clean housing and remove manure/soiled bedding
Use approved disinfectants effective against relevant pathogens

Monitor your stock daily

Walk through animals daily checking for signs of illness
Record any unusual symptoms, deaths, or behaviour changes
Investigate sudden changes in feed consumption, milk yield, or egg production
Don't assume symptoms are 'just' a minor illness—investigate properly

Compensation for compulsory slaughter

If animals are compulsorily slaughtered as part of disease control measures (e.g., FMD reactors, avian influenza culls, TB reactors), you are eligible for compensation calculated as:

Market value at the time of valuation MINUS salvage value (if carcass has any value)

Valuation process

APHA arranges for an independent valuer to assess animals before slaughter
Valuation is based on market value immediately before disease suspicion (not current diseased state)
You can request a second valuation if you disagree with the first
Payment is typically made within 1-3 months of slaughter

Compensation may be reduced or refused if:

You failed to report disease when first suspected
You breached movement restrictions or biosecurity instructions
You failed to comply with compulsory testing requirements (e.g., TB testing)
You obstructed APHA officers during investigations

This is why prompt reporting is critical: Delay in reporting not only risks disease spread but can cost you compensation eligibility.

Full list of notifiable diseases

The diseases covered in this guide are the most common. For the complete list of notifiable diseases (80+ diseases across all species including bees, fish, and exotic species), see GOV.UK guidance.

Other significant notifiable diseases include:

Anthrax (all species)
Rabies (all species)
Brucellosis (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs)
Salmonella (poultry—specific serotypes)
Newcastle disease (poultry)
Enzootic bovine leukosis (cattle)
Peste des petits ruminants (sheep and goats)
African horse sickness (horses)

AGRICULTURE & FARMING Requirement

Farm assurance schemes (Red Tractor, Quality Meat Scotland, etc.) require immediate reporting of suspected notifiable diseases and full compliance with APHA instructions during disease investigations. Failure to report or non-compliance with disease controls results in suspension from assurance schemes. Maintain detailed biosecurity records demonstrating disease prevention measures.