Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

UK declares Avian Influenza Prevention Zone
Keepers with 500 birds or more will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites.

Bird keepers across England, Scotland and Wales now legally obliged to follow strict biosecurity measures.

The UK's chief veterinary officer has announced an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Britain following several confirmed cases in captive and wild birds.

Under the AIPZ, keepers with 500 birds or more will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites. Workers will also be required to change their clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures, and site vehicles will need cleaned and disinfected daily.

The move was announced by the UK Government on Wednesday evening (11 November), following discussions with Scottish and Welsh Governments to introduce national prevention zones at the same time.

The UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: “I have today declared a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) legislating for actions all bird keepers must take to help prevent the disease spreading to more poultry and other domestic birds.

“Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency advises that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements and this is in your interests to do, to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.”

She added: “Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese are also urged to strengthen their biosecurity measures in order to prevent further outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK.”

The introduction of the AIPZ follows two separate, unrelated cases of avian flu confirmed in Cheshire and Kent last week. Highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu was also confirmed at a broiler breeder farm in Herefordshire on Wednesday (11 November).

A small number of wild birds in Gloucestershire, Devon and Dorset have also tested positive for the disease. 

The introduction of the AIPZ follows a decision to raise the risk level for avian influenza incursion in wild birds in Great Britain from ‘medium’ to ‘high’.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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.