Animal disease scanning surveillance at APHA
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-04)

APHA detects and investigates new and re-emerging diseases in animals in England and Wales.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out disease surveillance to identify new and re-emerging threats to animal and public health through:
- statutory surveillance, by monitoring and collecting notifiable and reportable disease information, such as salmonella and brucella
- scanning surveillance, through the voluntary submission and collection of information by private vets enabling the early detection of new and re-emerging disease threats, such as Schmallenberg virus and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
Disease surveillance enables APHA to:
- characterise potential threats, using information from farm and clinic visits, laboratory testing, scientific literature and subject experts
- assess the risk to animal health and welfare, public health, and international trade
- communicate clearly to Government and industry to enable appropriate decisions and actions to be taken
Read the reports, analyses, surveillance data and other publications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/view-apha-surveillance-reports-publications-and-data) produced by APHA.

How APHA carries out disease surveillance

Equine Surveillance

The APHA collaborates with Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) to conduct surveillance of equine infectious disease. Outbreak sentinel surveillance data is gathered, analysed, and shared. Additionally data on diagnostic tests and post-mortem examinations is collected from a network of UK based laboratories. EIDS also provide advice and support to veterinary surgeons to diagnose, control and prevent endemic disease in equines.

Livestock surveillance

APHA collects data from carrying out diagnostic tests (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-samples-from-farm-animals-for-diagnostic-testing) and post-mortem examinations (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-farm-animals-for-a-post-mortem-examination) on farm animals as part of its disease surveillance.

The APHA national network also provides advice and support to veterinary surgeons to diagnose, control and prevent disease in farm animals.

Wildlife surveillance

The APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS) delivers national surveillance for wildlife disease in England and Wales. APHA also chairs the Great Britain Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership which publishes emerging threat reports.

Small animals (pets) surveillance

APHA works collaboratively to gather, analyse, and share information on small animal health surveillance. Potential threats in all pets are covered, including exotics.

The national network

We collect our data through the APHA national network which includes:
- Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apha-veterinary-investigation-centres-and-surveillance-pathology-partners) in England and Wales
- surveillance pathology partners (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apha-veterinary-investigation-centres-and-surveillance-pathology-partners) which provide post-mortem examination services under contract
- APHA Lasswade (for poultry only)
APHA data are analysed alongside data from SRUC veterinary services and by the Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU), which produces reports and alerts to government, veterinary surgeons and industry.

Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU)

The SIU manages veterinary scanning surveillance activities at APHA.

The SIU is comprised of the:
- Species Expert Groups (SEGs)
- Surveillance Epidemiology and Data Analysis (SEDA) team
Species Expert Groups (SEGs)

The SEGs gather, analyse and share information on animal health surveillance.

Information is gathered from the diagnostic service (APHA, SRUC Veterinary Services and partner providers) and other sources of livestock and wildlife data.

Each livestock SEG usually includes:
- APHA and representatives from SRUC Veterinary Services including veterinary and scientific staff. Associate members also provide input on specific diseases or international trade
- non-APHA representatives from the livestock industry, sector councils, academia, specialist veterinary divisions and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
Each SEG has a veterinary lead who you can contact to discuss unusual mortality or disease in animals (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vets-contact-apha-to-get-expert-advice-on-unusual-animal-disease).

For all other queries about scanning surveillance contact: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Surveillance Epidemiology and Data Analysis team (SEDA)

The SEDA team helps the SEGs to collate, analyse and communicate surveillance data.

The team provides data management, analysis and epidemiological expertise and works with other groups across APHA, in industry and in academia to explore and implement data and methodologies that will enhance the value of surveillance information.

Centre of Expertise in Extensively Managed Livestock (CoEEML)

CoEEML is led through Carmarthen VIC (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apha-veterinary-investigation-centres-and-surveillance-pathology-partners) and forms part of the wider veterinary surveillance system operated by APHA.

‘Extensively-managed livestock’ are those that are kept in such a way that they are not easily inspected for signs of ill health or significantly altered production, for example animals that are kept on common land, uplands, mountains or moors. The primary focus for the centre are cattle and sheep.

CoEEML aims to develop:
- engagement with keepers of extensively managed livestock to promote disease surveillance activities and improve collection of surveillance data
- communication and information sharing with farmers and vets, to promote healthy livestock, productivity and sustainable farming in extensive systems
- a virtual hub of expertise in surveillance in extensively managed livestock to complement the species expert groups
Contact CoEEML: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Equine surveillance

Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) is an independently funded team based at Cambridge Vet School, University of Cambridge.

EIDS delivers surveillance activities in horses and collaborates with stakeholders through a variety of services available through the EIDS website (https://equinesurveillance.org/landing/).

The equine disease surveillance report is produced in partnership with APHA and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and is published on the EIDS website and in the Veterinary Record.

APHA’s partners

Animal health surveillance is overseen by the UK Surveillance Forum (UKSF) (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-surveillance-forum-uksf) which includes the Chief Veterinary Officers and policy representations from all four administrations.

The UKSF has published the UK approach to animal health surveillance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uksf-uk-approach-to-animal-health-surveillance), which sets out the requirements for successful surveillance.

This relies on partnerships between APHA, APHA’s partner providers, livestock keepers, private veterinary surgeons and other stakeholders.