Animal health | EFSA
Activities on specific animal diseases
African swine fever
African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. In 2007 outbreaks of ASF occurred in Georgia, from where the disease spread to neighbouring countries, affecting domestic pigs and wild boar. In 2014, first outbreaks were reported in the European Union, where ASF is still present, affecting several countries. Since then, EFSA has provided advice and supported the European Commission and Member States in dealing with the disease.
Avian influenza
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a very contagious viral disease that occurs primarily in poultry and wild water birds. Under certain circumstances it can be transmitted from animals to humans. EFSA, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the EU reference laboratory on avian influenza, and authorities in affected Member States publish quarterly reports on the epidemiological situation of HPAI in Europe and at global level, addressing both animal and human health. EFSA also analyses surveillance data collected by Member States on avian influenza in poultry and wild birds, and contributes to early warning of HPAI through several initiatives.
The larvae of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis can cause a serious parasitic zoonosis in humans, the Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE). EFSA provides annual assessments of Echinococcus multilocularis surveillance data collected by Member States. More information can be found in the annual reports for the following years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.
In 2015 EFSA published a Scientific Opinion on Echinococcus multilocularis infection in animals.
Epizootic haemorrhagic disease
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a viral disease affecting wild and domestic ruminants, transmitted by biting midges. The infection can cause considerable welfare impact and production losses, especially in dairy farms. At the end of 2022, the virus was introduced in Italy and Spain. Vector abundance and climatic conditions are favourable to sustain EHD virus circulation in the EU (EFSA, 2009). More information can be found in the recently updated systematic literature reviews and the disease profile.
Lumpy skin disease
Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects and is currently present in many African and Asian countries, where it may have a large economic impact on livestock production. Between 2012 and 2017, it spread from the Middle East to south-east Europe, affecting EU Member States (Greece and Bulgaria) and several other countries in the Balkans. Its spread was controlled thanks to a large, coordinated vaccination campaign co-funded by the EU. EFSA published regular updates on the status of the disease in south-eastern Europe.
Rabies
Rabies is a serious viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals (dogs, cats, foxes, etc.) including humans. Each year, EFSA and ECDC update the chapter on rabies in their One Health Zoonoses Report with the analysis of the results of Lyssavirus surveillance and monitoring activities in humans and animals, and the geographical distribution of Lyssavirus infections in Europe. More information can be found in the annual reports of the following years: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
In 2022 EFSA assessed the risks related to a possible reduction of the waiting period for dogs after rabies antibody titration to 30 days compared with 90 days of the current EU legislative regime. In 2015, an assessment of oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies was performed.
A dashboard to monitor news articles related to rabies in the media was developed under the syndromic surveillance project (see above under Horizontal activities).
Rift Valley fever
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes to animals (domestic and wild ruminants and camels) as well as humans. EFSA, under the framework of the Animal Health Law, assessed the effectiveness of control measures against RVF.
Following the outbreaks in the French overseas department of Mayotte in 2020, EFSA performed a series of assessments on RVF and published three scientific opinions on: the effectiveness of surveillance and control measures in the EU, the risk of introduction of RVF to the EU, and the impact of the disease in Mayotte.
SARS-CoV-2 in animals
EFSA and ECDC have worked together on the assessment of health risks related to SARS-CoV-2 among animals and from animals to humans. The work particularly focused on farmed mink, as this species has the highest likelihood to become infected and transmit SARS-CoV-2 to other animals and humans.
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