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UK risk of Newcastle disease increased to medium
Outbreaks have been confirmed this month on two premises for commercial poultry in East Flanders. (Stock photo)
Move from Defra follows new outbreaks in Belgium

The risk of Newcastle disease (ND) being introduced the UK has been raised from ‘low’ to ‘medium’, Defra has announced following two recent outbreaks in Belgium.

Outbreaks have been confirmed this month on two premises for commercial poultry in East Flanders.

The first premises holds more than 3,600 poultry and is a dealer in hobby birds, according to the Belgian authorities. On the second premises, there are around 60,000 poultry, of which less than 10 per cent showed severe signs or mortality.

According to a disease report from Defra, there have been 10 outbreaks of ND since June, at hobbyist poultry premises in Liege, Antwerp, Hainaut, Brabant Wallon, Brabant Flamand, East Flanders and West Flanders.

Currently any birds showing clinical signs are being euthanised, while others present are being vaccinated.

In May, there were reports of ND on a premises with 13 hobby birds in Luxembourg, on the border with Belgium. Another case was confirmed in hobby birds in Liege, Belgium, in April. The majority of confirmed Belgian cases are on hobby keeper premises.

As a result of the outbreaks, Defra has increased the UK’s risk level to medium. Pathways for ND to enter the UK include the movement of live poultry and wild birds; contact with fomites and contaminated equipment, clothing or transport; or contact with infected meat or meat products.

Defra said it will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.