Animal health updates and veterinary advisories

Overview

Animal health updates and veterinary advisories are communications released by the Office of the Chief Veterinarian for Ontario and used to notify livestock and poultry producers, animal owners, veterinarians, other industry stakeholders and impacted parties of potential animal health hazards currently circulating in Ontario or that may be found outside of Ontario but pose a significant risk of introduction to the province.

Animal health updates

Animal health updates are used to update or remind livestock and poultry producers, animal owners, veterinarians and other industry stakeholders and impacted parties about current information on an ongoing or potential animal disease or hazard. They include a summary of the disease or hazard, its zoonotic potential, and general recommendations for management of and/or biosecurity practices to prevent and/or limit the spread of the disease or hazard in Ontario.

Veterinary advisories

Veterinary advisories are issued when there is a detection or risk of a disease or hazard that poses a significant risk to animal and/or public health or has the potential to cause significant economic impact to the agricultural industry. This may include the initial detection or first annual occurrence of an animal disease or hazard in Ontario. These include but are not limited to diseases or hazards listed in the Animal Health Act, 2009.

Veterinary dvisories may include information about current or potential disease outbreaks or hazards, their zoonotic potential, clinical and pathological signs, available diagnostics, treatment options and biosecurity practices to prevent/ limit the introduction or spread of the disease or hazard, as well as additional technical and scientific information if applicable. Veterinarians and industry stakeholders may also distribute the advisory to clients and producers who may be affected by the risk or presence of the hazard or disease.