If notifiable disease is suspected or detected, contact the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Regional Office immediately. Failure to do so is an offence.
List of notifiable diseases in Northern Ireland
The following tables summarise the notifiable diseases in Northern Ireland (NI), which species are affected by the disease and the last known occurrence of the disease in NI. The diseases are categorised in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429, known as Animal Health Law (AHL) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882.
Category 'A' Diseases
These are listed diseases that do not normally occur in the European Union (EU) or NI and for which immediate eradication measures must be taken as soon as it is detected, as referred to in Article 9(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
| Category 'A' Diseases | Species affected | NI Last occurrence |
| African Horse Sickness | Horses | Never |
| African Swine Fever | Pigs | Never |
| Avian Influenza - High Pathogenic Avian Influenza | Poultry | 2022 |
| Classic Swine Fever | Pigs | 1958 |
| Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Cattle | 1893 |
| Foot and Mouth Disease | Cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminating animals | 2001 |
| Glanders | Horses | 1910 |
| Goat Pox(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Goats | 1850 |
| Lumpy Skin Disease(external link opens in a new window / tab) | All | Never |
| Newcastle Disease | Poultry | 1997 |
| Peste Des Petites Ruminants (aka sheep and goat plague)(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Sheep and goats | Never |
| Rift Valley Fever(external link opens in a new window / tab) | All | Never |
| Rinderpest (Cattle Plague)(external link opens in a new window / tab) | All |
1900 |
| Sheep Pox(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Sheep | 1850 |
Category 'B' Diseases
These are listed diseases which must be controlled in the EU and NI with the goal of eradicating it throughout the EU and NI, as referred to in Article 9(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
| Category 'B' Diseases | Species affected | NI last occurrence |
| Bovine Tuberculosis (Myobacterium Bovis) | Cattle and many other species | Present |
| Brucellosis (Brucella Abortus) | Cattle | 2012 |
| Brucellosis (Brucella Melitensis) | Sheep and goats | Never |
| Brucellosis (Brucella Suis) | Pigs | Never |
| Rabies | Dogs and other mammals | 1923 |
Category 'C' Diseases
These are listed diseases which are of relevance to some EU Member States and for which measures are needed to prevent it from spreading to parts of the EU and NI that are officially disease-free or that have eradication programmes for the listed disease concerned, as referred to in Article 9(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
| Category 'C' Diseases | Species affected | NI last occurrence |
| Aujeszky’s Disease | Pigs and other mammals | 2009 |
| Bluetongue | Ruminants | Never |
| Bovine Viral Diarrhoea | Cattle | Present |
| Echinococcus Multilocularis | Dogs and foxes | Never |
| Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL)(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Cattle | Never |
| Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Cattle | Present |
Category ‘D’ Diseases
These are listed diseases for which measures are needed to prevent it from spreading on account of its entry into the EU or NI or movements between Member States and NI, as referred to in Article 9(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
Category ‘E’ Diseases
These are listed diseases for which there is a need for surveillance within the EU and NI, as referred to in Article 9(1)(e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
| Category 'E' Diseases | Species affected | NI last occurrence |
| Equine Viral Encephalomyelitis(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Horses | Never |
| Japanese Encephalitis | Horses | Never |
| Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis) | Cattle, sheep and goats | Present |
| Q Fever (Coxiella Burnetii(external link opens in a new window / tab) | Cattle, sheep and goats | Present |
| West Nile Fever | Horses, birds | Never |
Notifiable Diseases not Categorised within AHL
These are diseases which are notifiable in NI but are not categorised within AHL.
Disease Free Status Table (Northern Ireland 2022)
The following table summarises the disease-free status for terrestrial animals and aquatic animals recorded in Northern Ireland pursuant to Article 38 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
Disease Free Status Table (Northern Ireland 2022)