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UK health officials confirm third case of monkeypox
A third case of monkeypox has been confirmed in a healthcare worker from Blackpool.
Public Health England taking a ‘highly precautionary approach’

Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed a third case of monkeypox in England.

In a statement, PHE said that a healthcare worker from Blackpool Victoria Hospital is receiving treatment after coming into contact with another patient with the disease. The earlier patient had travelled to Nigeria where they are believed to have contracted the infection.

PHE confirmed that it is ‘adopting a highly precautionary approach’ to minimise the risk of further cases and are tracing anyone who may have had contact with the patient.

Dr Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said: “This healthcare worker cared for the patient before a diagnosis of monkeypox was made. We have been actively monitoring contacts for 21 days after exposure to detect anyone presenting with an illness so that they can be assessed quickly. It is therefore not wholly unexpected that a case has been identified.

“This person has been isolated and we are taking a highly precautionary approach to ensure that all contacts are traced.”

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease that can be transmitted through contact with the blood and bodily fluids of infected animals. Human infections have been liked to the handling of monkeys, but the virus does not spread easily among people.

PHE said the disease is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some individuals.

Monkeypox was first was first confirmed in Cornwall on 8 September. The patient is a resident of Nigeria, which is where they are believed to have picked up the infection, before travelling to the UK.

A second individual was confirmed with the infection on 11 September but has no UK link to the patient in Cornwall.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."