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7.5 gather and process information and use available evidence to discuss the changing methods of dealing with plant and animal diseases, including the shift in emphasis from treatment and control to management or prevention of disease

gather, process information and use available evidence, to discuss the changing methods of dealing with plant and animal diseases, including the shift in emphasis from treatment and control to management or prevention of disease

Background

There has been a shift from waiting for a disease to occur, to preventing the occurrence of the disease. This can be seen in agriculture where genetically resistant crops are grown so that the plants do not have to be sprayed for diseases later in life. Animal and plant diseases have been managed by quarantine restrictions in Australia. Diseases, such as foot and mouth, rabies and plum pox, are managed by not allowing infected organisms to enter the country. World-wide immunisation has caused diseases such as small pox to be eradicated.