Leicestershire Trading Standards Service enforces the wide range of legislation relating to animal health and welfare of farmed animals. Regular visits are carried out at farms, livestock markets, agricultural shows and slaughterhouses to check and advise on a wide range of issues including animal welfare, identification, record keeping, movement documentation, bio- security and correct methods of the disposal of animal by-products. They are also responsible for enforcing legislation relating to the transportation of farmed animals.

The Service plays a key role in responding to notifiable disease outbreaks and has emergency action and contingency plans in place to deal with outbreaks of animal diseases such as:

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) gives the following information for these diseases: -

Avian Influenza / Bird flu is a contagious (spreads by contact) disease of animals caused by influenza A viruses. Avian influenza viruses are normally only found in birds, but may infect pigs and have been known to infect sea mammals, mink, horses and other mammals. On rare occasions some types of avian influenza viruses have infected humans, but usually without involving human to human spread.

Avian Influenza viruses can be classified according to their ability to cause severe disease (pathogenicity) as either highly pathogenic or low pathogenic. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses- (HPAI) can cause severe disease in susceptible birds and low pathogenic avian influenza viruses- (LPAI) generally cause mild disease or no disease at all. Avian influenza is one of the most important poultry diseases, and serious outbreaks of disease have been reported in many countries.

It is vital that all bird keepers in the UK continue to practice the highest levels of biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your vet. If you suspect that your birds have Avian Influenza, you should report it to your local Animal Health Office immediately (Leicester AHDO - 0116 278 7451).

Bluetongue is a disease of animals affecting all ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer, goats and camelids (camels, llamas, alpacas, guanaco and vicuña). It does not affect horses or pigs. Although sheep are most severely affected, cattle are the main mammalian reservoir of the virus and are very important in the epidemiology of the disease. It is characterised by changes to the mucous linings of the mouth and nose and the coronary band of the foot. The disease is caused by a virus spread by certain types of biting midges. Bluetongue is present when it is confirmed by laboratory tests that the Bluetongue virus (BTV) is circulating in an area. Bluetongue does not affect humans.

If you are a member of the farming community experiencing distress and you would like to contact someone for help, support or just a listening ear then contact one of the numbers below;

·Rural Stress Information Network (weekdays 9am-5pm) 02476 412916 or

·Farm Crisis Network (everyday 7am -11pm) 07002 326326