The Poultry and Animal Health Section of the Delaware Department of Agriculture is committed to protect the health of domestic animal and avian species from the introduction and spread of infectious and contagious diseases, including those transmissible to the human population.
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- Perform ongoing observation and surveillance for contagious diseases in all domestic animals in Delaware. Diseases for which we monitor include: Brucellosis, tuberculosis, pseudorabies, scrapie, avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and Johne's disease.
- Respond to reports of disease or death with field investigations and contain outbreaks to preserve the health of unaffected animals.
It is the responsibility of the Poultry and Animal Health Section to be completely familiar with the disease status of all classes of animals — livestock, pet, and exotic, as well as commercial poultry and pet birds. This applies, not only to the local situation, but also regionally and nationally as well. If there is a serious disease in another state or section of the country, the State Veterinarian may place severe importation restrictions or a total embargo on the affected species in an attempt to prevent the introduction of the disease into this state.
This section is charged with preventing the introduction and spread of contagious and infectious diseases into and within the animal and poultry population of the state. It accomplishes this by maintaining a diagnostic laboratory of its own, as well as cooperating with the poultry diagnostic laboratory of the University of Delaware. Section personnel respond to reports of actual or potential disease problems from veterinarians as well as from livestock, poultry, and pet owners. Personnel visit farms, dairies, livestock auctions, etc. to collect various biological specimens for analysis and diagnosis of disease. In most instances, the veterinarian or owner is informed of the diagnosis, control, and/or treatment for the disease. When certain serious, highly contagious diseases are diagnosed, however, the State Veterinarian, through the authority given to the Secretary of Agriculture, may quarantine or even destroy the animal, herd, or flock to prevent the spread of that disease to other premises.
Delaware PEDv Information
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
Johne's Disease Information
- Handbook for Veterinarians and Beef Producers
- Handbook for Veterinarians and Dairy Producers
- How to do Risk Assessments and Develop Management Plans
- Johne's Goat and Sheep Booklet (Part One)
- Johne's Goat and Sheep Booklet (Part Two)
- Johne's Disease – Dairy Newsletter (Winter 2013)
- Johne's Disease – Beef Newsletter (Winter 2012)
Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) links