Animal health strategy and climate change

Recent evolutions indicate that climate change has an impact on animal health such as the emergence of the vector-borne disease Bluetongue in 2006 and its spread up to Sweden - outside its previously known distribution range. There have been increases in malaria, tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis in Europe in recent decades, though there are many other contributing factors such as increased global trade. The dynamics of non vector-borne diseases such as avian influenza may also be influenced by changes to migratory routes of wild waterfowl. The new Community Animal Health focuses on preventing rather than reacting to animal diseases. Its Action plan considers the influence of Climate Change on Animal Health. A new Animal Disease Information System (ADIS) is being developed to improve the gathering of epidemiological data. Stepping up animal disease surveillance and the establishment of further vaccine banks for certain animal diseases will enable risk managers to better respond to emerging disease situations.