The National Arbovirus Monitoring Program (NAMP) monitors the distribution of economically important arboviruses (insect-borne viruses) of ruminant livestock and associated insect vectors in Australia. Arboviruses monitored by NAMP include bluetongue, Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) viruses.
NAMP data are gathered throughout Australia by serological monitoring of cattle in sentinel herds and strategic serological surveys of other cattle herds (serosurveys) and trapping of insect vectors. The program maintains a database management system and publishes an Annual Report.
The NAMP is an ongoing collaboration between its primary beneficiaries: the cattle, sheep and goat industries; the livestock export industry; and the state, territory and Australian governments.
Objectives of the NAMP are:
- Market access – facilitate the export of live cattle, sheep, goats and camelids and their reproductive material, to countries that apply import conditions to mitigate the risk of introduction of bluetongue, Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) viruses.
- Bluetongue virus early warning – detect incursions of exotic strains of bluetongue virus (BTV) and vectors (Culicoides spp. biting midges) that have the potential to adversely affect livestock production in Australia and trade by surveillance of the northern BTV-endemic area.
- Risk management – detect changes in seasonal distribution in Australia of endemic bluetongue, Akabane and BEF viruses and their vectors, to inform livestock producers and support trade.
