Emergency Animal Disease Summit 2022

_{Image: keynote speaker Dr Mark Schipp}

Now more than ever it is vital for veterinarians to have up-to-date knowledge on Emergency Animal Disease (EAD). With the recent introduction of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and Erhlichia canis into Australia, as well as the threat of lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) on our doorstep, having EAD preparedness is imperative.

This is why the Australian Cattle Veterinarians, a special interest group of the AVA, are hosting a cross-sectoral EAD veterinary summit on 29 November to 1 December 2022.

The EAD Veterinary Summit delivers something different to the usual SIG-led events, in that it is designed for all veterinarians. As EAD incursions have the potential to affect all sectors of the veterinary profession as well as potentially decimating the agriculture industry, the summit provides an opportunity for vets from all industries to meet, share and learn about latest EAD updates and the role we play in an EAD response. 

Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Dr Mark Schipp, will open the two-day program as a keynote speaker, followed by industry updates from the dairy, red meat and pork sectors. State CVOs will be participating in a panel along with our National Animal Disease Preparedness Coordinator, Dr Chris Parker, providing delegates with an opportunity to discuss relevant key points and ask questions. 

With presentations from private practitioners, Animal Health Australia and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, the program has been designed to include all aspects of EADs including foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, African swine fever, Japanese encephalitis and ehrlichiosis. Keynote speaker Dr Michael Laurence, who is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Murdoch University and Program Manager at Meat and Livestock Australia, will speak on his ground-level experiences managing the UK FMD crisis in 2001. The third keynote speaker, Stephanie Bullen, is a dairy cattle veterinarian and currently leads the world-renowned major animal health initiatives InCalf and Countdown.

The 2022 EAD veterinary summit is a great opportunity for veterinarians from all sectors of the profession – those routinely working with production animals, those in rural mixed practice and those working in peri-urban areas – to join us for this unique, and extremely important, event. 

The EAD veterinary summit is being held at the Canberra Rex Hotel from 29 November to 1 December 2022. Click here to register – early bird registration closes on the Tuesday 8 November.

Watch at video from keynote speaker Michael Laurence below.