Wildlife health surveillance in Australia

Abstract

It is now recognised that those countries which conduct disease surveillance of their wild animal populations are more likely to detect the presence of infectious and zoonotic diseases and to swiftly adopt counter measures. The surveillance and monitoring of disease outbreaks in wildlife populations is particularly relevant in these days of rapid human and animal translocation, when the contact between wild and domestic animals is close and the threat of bioterrorist attack is very real. A major advantage of an efficient disease monitoring program for wildlife is the early detection of new and emerging diseases, some of which may have serious zoonotic and economic implications. A clear understanding of disease agents present in wildlife, and their effects on wildlife, domestic animals and humans is thus of paramount importance for management.