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Nurses take part in beach clean for VNAM
"Litter, especially plastics and fishing gear, can cause devastating and often life-threatening problems for our wildlife and eco system."

Plastic drinks caps among the most common rubbish items

Veterinary nurses took part in the first beach clean for Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) this year, clearing 27 bags of rubbish from Old Hunstanton Beach in Norfolk.

The beach clean, attended by over 40 people, was organised by BVNA Council member Jo Hinde and RVN Diane Westwood-Rowland.

“Veterinary nurses are often giving their very little spare time to causes that improve welfare for both humans and animals,” Jo Hinde said. “Beach cleans are a great example of this. Litter, especially plastics and fishing gear, can cause devastating and often life-threatening problems for our wildlife and eco system.

She added: “It was super to have the support of nurses and the general public on the day and help raise awareness of this problem as well as highlight some of the amazing things that veterinary nurses do.”

The most common waste items found during the beach clean were plastic caps from bottled drinks, cotton ear bud sticks and baby wipes. Other frequently found items were fishing netting, rope and monofilament lines, which can all be deadly to many animals.

Diane Westwood Rowland said: “The importance of the beach clean was highlighted when we sadly found two deceased animals, a seal and a gannet. We do not know what killed these beautiful creatures, but it reinforces the fact that humans need to wake up to the damage they are causing.”

There are plans to include the clean up in future VNAM campaigns and expand it to beaches across the UK.

Image © Jo Hinde
 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.