Tick fever is a serious disease in the northern parts of Australia. Of the domestic animals, it affects only cattle and buffalo. Late last century when tick fever swept through Queensland in the absence of chemical control, it was estimated that some three million cattle died. However, advances in tickicides, vaccines and drug technology now mean that tick fever can be controlled and such losses are highly unlikely to occur again.

The contents of this Primefact include the following:

• Cause of the disease
• How tick fever spreads
• Symptoms
• Numbers affected
• Reporting tick fever