Animal Disease

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) regulates many diseases, including:

Brucellosis
Chronic Wasting Disease
Scrapie
Trichomoniasis
Tuberculosis


Reportable diseases are diseases that must be brought to the attention of ISDA immediately, and notifiable diseases are diseases that must be brought to the attention of ISDA within 48 hours.
 
Avian Influenza or "Bird Flu," has been making headlines around the world.


In January 2006, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) published a very informative and easy to read paper about the Avian Influenza virus and human pandemic concerns. Please take the time to read this publication.

ISDA has initiated a statewide surveillance program to monitor domestic (farmed) game birds and poultry in an effort to detect and prevent possible spread of Avian Influenza, should it occur in Idaho, including the Asian H5N1 subtype. The implementation of this surveillance program in Idaho will proactively allow ISDA to test for dangerous forms of Avian Influenza, on a voluntary basis, in domestic poultry and take necessary measures, along with our state and federal partner agencies, to safeguard the health of Idaho poultry, livestock, and public.
State Animal Health personnel will be closely monitoring poultry at state fairs, as well as commercial and backyard flocks, in an effort to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

Free testing for Avian Influenza is available through the ISDA for sick backyard poultry. If you have a sick bird and are interested in free testing for avian influenza, contact the nearest County Extension Office for a location where owners may obtain sick bird sampling kits. The test is performed at the ISDA Animal Health lab from swab samples you take and ship in the container provided. Shipping is pre-paid. Any person desiring additional information about Avian Influenza in backyard poultry may contact the ISDA Animal Health Lab at (208) 332-8570 or by email at msimunich@agri.idaho.gov. For information concerning avian influenza or other diseases in wild birds, please contact your regional Idaho Department of Fish and Game office.

As a follow up to the presidential announcement on Avian influenza preparedness, a new website was launched. Pandemicflu.gov is the official U.S. government website for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza. Included on the site is information pertaining to the national strategy to protect from and prevent future outbreaks of Avian influenza. Links to USDA's site and information on Avian Influenza in animals are also available from the new website.

For additional information on this disease please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or the USDA's website on Avian Influenza.

 

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) is an infectious viral disease of horses. We have provided a link to general information about this disease, and a link to information about the EVA outbreak in surrounding states. There is also a testing form/certificate available for download. If you have any questions that are not covered here, please contact the Animal Health Lab.    

 
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Fight the Bite Logo from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare West Nile Virus (WNV) testing of horses is offered by the ISDA Animal Health Laboratory through licensed veterinarians. For information on WNV in humans, horses, or other animals please visit the Department of Health and Welfare, USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, or our FAQ page*.

~ If you have questions about WNV in Humans please contact your local District Health Department.

~ If you have questions about WNV in Wild Birds please contact the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208) 454-7646.

~If you have questions about WNV in Horses please contact your veterinarian.

~ If you have questions about WNV in Multiple Species please refer to the National Wildlife Health Center.

~ If you have questions about WNV in relation to Pesticides please refer to Urban Pest Management under the Department of Agriculture.

Please remember to vaccinate your horses for their protection against West Nile Virus. This can be done by your veterinarian.
Use the following links to obtain more information on WNV Horse Vaccine products:
 
Resources for veterinarians:

Neurological Checklist*

CSU Paper on Colorado and Nebraska Equine Cases - 2002*

 
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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, aka "Mad Cow Disease") is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We have provided a link to their information on this disease. USDA also has information on Brucellosis and Tuberculosis which can be found on the website for USDA Veterinary Services (VS). This information also includes some links to the Uniform Methods and Rules used for these diseases.

 

 

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Brucellosis is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Cattle Brucellosis can cause abortion, resulting in economic loss to the producer. The ISDA has rules, IDAPA 02.04.20, Rules Governing Brucellosis, which address Brucellosis specifically.

 

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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, which is a non-febrile, transmissible, insidious, and degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cervidae. CWD is covered specifically in IDAPA 02.04.19, Rules Governing Domestic Cervidae.

 

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Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that is a nonfebrile, transmissible, insidious, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Scrapie is covered in IDAPA 02.08.01, Sheep and Goat Rules.

 


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Trichomoniasis is an infectious protozoal venereal disease of cattle which can cause abortion and infertility resulting in economic loss to the producer. Trichomoniasis is covered specifically in IDAPA 02.04.29, Rules Governing Trichomoniasis

 

 

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Tuberculosis is a slowly progressive bacterial disease of animals and humans caused by Mycobacterium bovis. ISDA has Rules Governing Tuberculosis, IDAPA 02.04.24, which covers Tuberculosis specifically.
* This document is in .pdf format