A Message From Our CVO

As we move from summer into autumn, maintaining strong surveillance and timely reporting remains one of the most important contributions veterinarians make to protecting animal health and NSW’s livestock industries. VetWrap brings together recent surveillance insights, emerging trends and key policy updates to support veterinarians working across the state.

This issue highlights recent diagnostic trends reported to NSW DPIRD across cattle, sheep, poultry and pigs, alongside historical seasonal patterns to give insight into what may be seen in the coming months. While many of these conditions reflect expected seasonal disease activity, they also serve as an important reminder that early recognition and reporting of unusual disease events remain critical to protecting NSW from emergency animal diseases.

You will also find important updates to eligibility for subsidised testing for Brucella suis in dogs, Australian Bat Lyssavirus, and Hendra virus, which came into effect on 2 March 2026. These changes relate to funding eligibility rather than disease risk and reinforce the importance of clear clinical histories and appropriate case documentation when submitting samples.

This edition also includes a timely reminder about psittacosis, a zoonotic disease that continues to present occupational risks for veterinarians and those working with birds.

Finally, we provide a brief overview of the global situation for several key emergency animal diseases. While Australia remains free from these diseases, ongoing international activity highlights the importance of continued vigilance and early reporting.

Thank you for the vital role you play in NSW’s animal health surveillance system.

Dr Jo Coombe

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Director Animal Biosecurity

NSW Surveillance Update

This section provides an overview of trends in diagnoses across NSW, including the Top 5 Diagnoses from September to October 2025 and the Top 5 Most Probable Diagnoses for Summer for cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. You’ll also find seasonal articles and key updates from NSW Animal Biosecurity.

NSW surveillance insights are drawn from the NSW Animal Disease Surveillance Data Set (ADSDS), which brings together standardised diagnostic investigation data collected by Local Land Services and laboratory results from EMAI and ACDP as well as notifiable disease test results reported by external laboratories. Only diagnostic cases for animals located in NSW are included. 

If you’re interested in more detailed, region-specific diagnostic trends, please reach out to your local District Veterinarian on 1300 765 299.

Advice:

For information on Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry and eggs, including signs, spread, diagnosis, reporting requirements and biosecurity measures in NSW visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/biosecurity/animal-biosecurity/animal-diseases-of-concern-for-nsw2/salmonella-enteritidis

Advice:
For information on Brucellosis (Brucella suis), including disease signs in pigs and dogs, zoonotic risks, transmission and reporting requirements in NSW visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/biosecurity/animal-biosecurity/animal-diseases-of-concern-for-nsw2/brucellosis-brucella-suis

Testing Changes from 2 March 2026: What NSW Vets Need to Know

From 2 March 2026, there are changes to eligibility for subsidised testing for:

• Brucella suis in dogs
• Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV)
• Hendra virus

These changes affect funding eligibility, not disease status.

Brucella suis in dogs

What has changed?

Subsidised testing now applies only to dogs with clinical signs consistent with infection, such as:

• Reproductive problems (dystocia, abortion, stillbirths, orchitis, epididymitis)
• Lameness/ joint swelling
• Back pain (especially on palpation of lumbar spine)
• Lymphadenopathy
• Haematuria
• Prostatitis

The following testing is no longer subsidised and will incur laboratory charges for the following:

• In-contact dogs (unless showing clinical signs consistent with infection)
• Asymptomatic dogs
• Surveillance screening

Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV)

What has changed?

Subsidised testing now applies only if the bat:

• Has had human exposure (bite/scratch/saliva contact), OR
• Shows neurological signs consistent with lyssavirus infection

Testing where there has only been companion animal exposure (e.g. dog contact, no human exposure) is not subsidised, as post-exposure vaccination is considered a viable risk mitigation measure in these cases

Hendra Virus – Funding Eligibility Now Conditional on Clinical Detail

Subsidised Hendra testing now requires:

• A complete history and clinical exam findings on the submission form
• Specific details including:
  • Age
  • Vaccination history
  • Location
  • Presence of flying foxes
  • Clinical exam findings (temperature, heart rate, behaviour)
  • Clinical progression
  • Response to treatment
  • Level of human contact

Ideally two samples submitted (blood and swabs).

Submissions with inadequate information will not qualify for funding and will be tested at the submitter’s expense.

Why this matters in clinic

These updates don’t change disease risk, they change funding eligibility.

For clinics, that means:

• Stronger triage before submitting samples
• Clear documentation of exposure and clinical signs
• Transparent client communication around testing costs
• Reinforcing zoonotic risk awareness within your team

Read the Full bulletin available here:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1659559/CVO-Bulletin-Testing-for-Canine-Brucellosis,-Australian-Bat-Lyssavirus-and-Hendra-Virus-Policy-Changes-Feb-2026.pdf

Psittacosis: A timely reminder for veterinarians 

NSW expands eligibility criteria for free Japanese Encephalitis virus vaccine

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. In NSW, a free vaccine is available for people who may be at greater risk of infection.

Eligibility criteria has been expanded to include:

• Until 1 June 2026, eligibility has also expanded to any person in NSW who are, or will be, visiting any of the high risk LGAs and undertaking outdoor recreational activities such as camping, caravanning, boating, hunting and fishing.
• People living or working in any of the nearly 70 LGAs in NSW considered at risk of JEV. Additional LGAs have been added:  Armidale, Ballina, Bathurst, Blayney, Byron, Oberon, Tweed, Walcha, and Yass Valley.

Vaccines are available from GPs, pharmacists and Aboriginal Medical Services. Read more about JE virus and JEV vaccination in NSW.

Mosquitoes can transmit a range of diseases to humans. Protect yourself from mosquito bites.

EAD Global Situation Update

This section provides a snapshot of the current global Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) landscape, highlighting significant international events, emerging threats, or notable trends. Staying informed about global EAD activity supports early awareness and strengthens preparedness across NSW.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) Status (January 2026):

Australia remains the only continent free from H5N1 HPAI (H5 bird flu), the strain causing global concern. This strain has spread rapidly between continents associated with the movement of wild birds.

The new HPAI season began in October 2025 with November 2025 observed as the highest peak of poultry outbreaks

January 2026 saw:

• Across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa:
  • 108 reported outbreaks in poultry
  • 178 outbreaks in non-poultry birds and mammals
• Approx. 5,341,375 poultry birds died or culled mostly in Europe.

Notable outbreaks:

HPAI outbreaks in mammals reported in:

• Heard and McDonald Islands
• Bangladesh
• Suspected cases of HPAI in the sub-Antarctic islands and Antarctica proper continue to be reported by research the community present on site.

Please see the WOAH HPAI Situation Report 79 for further details

See also - WOAH Statement on the impact of HPAI on wildlife worldwide

African Swine Fever (ASF) Status (January 2026)

January 2026 saw:

• 1 new ASF event reported in Asia
• 16 countries in total updated ongoing events:
  • 13 countries in Europe
  • 2 countries in Asia
  • 1 country in Africa
• Europe, Asia and Africa reported:
  • 12 new outbreaks in domestic pigs
  • approximately 724 new outbreaks in wild boars
  • 353 domestic pig losses

Notable points:

• Decreasing trend in the number of reported outbreaks in domestic pigs since September 2025
• Recent increase in reported outbreaks in wildlife for the period from October to December 2025
• January 2026 saw South Africa observe an ASF ‘jump’ of approximately 30km from the nearest previously reported outbreaks

Please see the WOAH ASF Situation Report 73 for further details

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Status 

There have been no reported cases of FMD in Australia, Timor Leste or Papua New Guinea. FMD was reported in Indonesia on 9 May 2022.

Notable outbreaks:

• Cyprus – 19^th February 2026
  • New strain in the country
  • 110 confirmed cases in cattle, domestic sheep and goats
  • 13,920 animals susceptible to infection
• Israel - 14^th January 2026
  • New strain in the country
  • 555 confirmed cases in domestic cattle
  • 3,333 cattle susceptible to infection
  • 1,166 goats susceptible to infection
• Korea (Rep. of) - 30^th January 2026
  • Recurrence of an eradicated disease
  • 89 confirmed cases in domestic cattle
  • 376 cattle susceptible to infection

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) Status 

There have been no reported cases of LSD in Australia, Timor Leste or Papua New Guinea. LSD was reported in Indonesia on 2 March 2022.

Notable outbreaks:

Spain – 1^st October 2025

• First occurrence in the country
• Event status – On-going
• 62 confirmed cases in domestic cattle
• 2,749 cattle susceptible to infection
• 128 cattle killed and disposed of

See Statement on recent lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Europe - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health for further information.