Multi-species disease prevention
Last updated on August 16, 2022If you suspect that your animals are sick with any of the diseases here, contact your veterinarian or local CFIA animal health office immediately to assess your animals and submit samples to the Animal Health Centre.
Anthrax
Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. It can have devastating effects on cattle, sheep, goats, horses and bison.
In Canada, anthrax is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Learn more at CFIA’s webpage.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a disease caused by several species of the Brucella bacterium. It is chronic and contagious. The disease can affect many species of mammals, particularly cattle, swine, bison, elk, deer, goats, sheep, horses and other ruminants.
In Canada, brucellosis (Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, Brucella melitensis) is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Learn more at CFIA’s webpage.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. Elephants, hedgehogs and some rodents are also susceptible to the virus but do not develop clinical signs of the disease. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated. Horses are not affected.
Learn more at CFIA’s webpage.
Rift Valley Fever
Rift Valley Fever is an acute viral disease that affects domestic animals (such as sheep, cattle, and goats) and humans. Disease in these species is characterized by fever, severe illness, abortions, and a high mortality rate. Mosquitoes are a common source of the virus.
In Canada, Rift Valley Fever is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Learn more at CFIA’s webpage.
Vesicular stomatitis
Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease affecting horses, ruminants such as cattle, sheep and members of the deer and llama families, and swine. While VS causes discomfort to affected animals, and may result in loss of markets for live animals, meat and animal genetics, it is most significant because it closely resembles foot and mouth disease (FMD). Foot and mouth disease affects ruminants and swine, and is a devastating disease for producers.
In Canada, vesicular stomatitis is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Learn more at CFIA’s webpage.
West Nile Virus (WNV)
WNV is transmitted primarily to wild birds by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can also transmit WNV to humans, horses and occasionally to other animals. The first evidence of WNV infections acquired in British Columbia (B.C.) was reported in 2009.
WNV is a B.C. provincially notifiable disease. The Public Health Veterinarian at the Animal Health Centre, on behalf of the province’s Chief Veterinarian, collects information on horses with WNV and shares this information with the BCCDC. As a federal immediately notifiable disease, laboratories suspecting or diagnosing a horse with WNV are required to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Please see the CFIA WNV case definition for horses. The federal and provincial governments’ roles with notifiable diseases is limited to information collection for surveillance purposes, a regulatory response is not elicited.