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Biosecurity for Canadian Cervid Farms Producer Planning Guide
Appendix 7: What are reportable / notifiable diseases

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While many microorganisms are natural elements of human and animal ecosystems and not likely to cause disease in healthy animals or humans, a small number do cause disease and are referred to as pathogens. The provinces, territories and federal government regulate certain diseases that can have a significant impact locally, nationally or internationally. Federally, livestock diseases are categorized as: reportable, immediately notifiable and annually notifiable. Provincially, livestock diseases are categorized as reportable or notifiable. Cervid producers and stakeholders should be aware of these diseases and their reporting/management obligations to minimize their impact:

A reportable disease refers to diseases in federal and/or provincial acts and regulations. Federally reportable diseases are outlined in the Health of Animals Act and Reportable Diseases Regulations and are usually of significant importance to human or animal health or to the Canadian economy. Producers/animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories are required to immediately report the presence of an animal that is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with one of these diseases to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency district veterinarian. Control or eradication measures may be applied immediately. A list of federally reportable diseases is available on the CFIA website.

Immediately notifiable diseases, in general, are diseases exotic to Canada for which there are no control or eradication programs and are to be reported immediately to a specific government agency.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency can undertake control measures for such diseases when notified of their presence in Canada. This category also includes some local rarely occurring diseases. A herd or flock of origin must be certified as being free from these diseases in order to meet import requirements of trading partners. Some provincial ministries may require notification for surveillance and/or control of certain immediately notifiable diseases.

Annually notifiable diseases are diseases that must be reported to the CFIA by laboratories and which CFIA reports on annually to the world organization for animal health.

Provincial reportable/notifiable diseases: Some provincial agriculture departments require reporting of diseases outlined in their provincial animal disease legislation. For additional information, contact the respective provincial agriculture department. Refer to Appendix 8.

Zoonotic diseases: Certain pathogens cause illness in humans and animals and can be transmitted from humans to animals and/or animals to humans. Examples include: Salmonella sp., Brucella sp., Leptospira sp., and Mycobacteria sp., among others. If zoonotic disease is suspected in a herd, producers should recognize the potential health risks and implement biosecurity measures necessary to protect human and animal health.

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