New text alert service issued for animal diseases

DEFRA’s Animal Health department has today launched a free news alert service to help people keep in touch with the latest developments on notifiable diseases.

By registering, subscribers will receive alerts on up to five notifiable animal diseases – foot and mouth, bluetongue, avian flu, Newcastle disease and classical swine fever.

Subscribers can choose to receive free alerts via a voicemail on a landline or mobile telephone, via text, fax or e-mail.

Free registration

Subscribers who register on-line will be able to register for free. But those who register via telephone will incur a one-off charge.

“A disease outbreak is a difficult time and it is vitally important that livestock keepers can access accurate information as quickly as possible,” said Glenys Stacey, Animal Health chief executive.

“The new subscription service means our customers can choose the way they receive information and can choose which disease or diseases they want to be updated about.”

Sign up

To sign up on-line to the Animal Health Subscription Service visit the Animal Health website.

To sign up by telephone dial 0844 884 9888 and follow the press button instructions.

* DEFRA has also launched a series of Livestock Markets Roadshows this week. There will be some 80 visits to market towns around England, giving farmers a chance to talk face-to-face with DEFRA officials about animal disease and welfare issues.