Infectious Animal Diseases (Not Zoonoses)
Non-zoonotic infectious animal diseases are not shared between animals and humans (WHO, FAO, & OIE, 2019).
Primary reference(s)
WHO, FAO, OIE, 2019. Taking a Multisectoral, One Health Approach: a Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries. World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Accessed 9 January 2025.
Annotations
Additional scientific description
Animals also fall sick for various reasons. Some of these diseases can infect humans and are called zoonosis (BI0113); some are not infectious such as milk fever in cows caused by a shortage of calcium, or onion poisoning in cats, which occurs due to a specific dietary cause. Of the infectious diseases that infect various livestock species, some are called Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs). TADs can easily spread to other countries and reach epidemic proportions, their control/management requires cooperation between several countries (FAO, 2009). Moreover, TADs pose a serious threat to world food security through their capacity to spread very rapidly in plague proportions and cause critical shortfalls in the production of milk, meat and other animal-derived human foodstuffs (FAO, 1997).
Example of major TADs in HIPs: African swine fever (BI0302), classical swine fever (BI0303), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (BI0304), foot-and-mouth disease (BI0306), lumpy skin disease (BI0307), peste des petits ruminants (BI0310), Rift Valley fever (BI0311), rinderpest (BI0312).
Metrics and numeric limits
Not applicable.
Key relevant UN convention / multilateral treaty
United Nations. 2023. UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - UN Model Regulations. https://unece.org/transport/dangerous-goods/un-model-regulations-rev-23 Accessed 1 January 2025.
Drivers
Hazard drivers of non-zoonotic infectious animal diseases include movement of animals, vectors and climate change, floods and swill feeding. For example, feeding swill (consumption phase food waste) is historically associated with disease transmission to animals (Dame-Korevaar et al., 2021).
Impacts
Non-zoonotic infectious animal diseases are threats to the lives of animals and to food security and biodiversity.
Multi-hazard context
Hazard drivers of non-zoonotic infectious animal diseases include movement of animals, vectors, floods and swill feeding. For example, feeding swill (consumption phase food waste) is historically associated with disease transmission to animals (Dame-Korevaar et al., 2021).
Risk Management
Vaccination, biosecurity
Monitoring
The section and the table below offer an overview of monitoring for infectious animal diseases. This information can be used for forecasting within a national early warning system (EWS). Since EWS capacities and processes differ across countries, the most current and specific information regarding EWS should be obtained from the appropriate national or regional agency/authority responsible for disaster management.
| Which institution(s) produce(s) Disaster Risk Data/Information? | FAO Reference Centres, WOAH Reference Centres |
| How is the Hazard Observed/Monitored/Forecast? | FAO empres-i+ https://empres-i.apps.fao.org/diseases WOAH WAHIS https://wahis.woah.org/#/event-management |
References
Coetzer, J.A.W., Thomson, G.R., Tustin, R.C., 1994. Infectious diseases of livestock with special reference to Southern Africa. Eds: J. A. W. Coetzer, G. R. Thomson, R. C. Tustin. Oxford University Press Southern Africa, Cape Town. Accessed 24 May 2025.
Dame-Korevaar A., Boumans I.J.M.M., Adriaan, F.G., Antonis, A., et al., 2021. Microbial health hazards of recycling food waste as animal feed. Future Foods. Vol 4. 100062. ISSN 2666-8335. doi: 10.1016/j.fufo.2021.100062. Accessed 25 May 2025.
FAO. 2009. Transboundary animal diseases. Accessed 9 January 2025.
FAO, 2016. Economic analysis of animal diseases. FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines. No. 18. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Accessed 9 January 2025.
OIE, IUCN, 2014. Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) & International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Accessed 9 January 2025.