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Fifth UK case of avian influenza confirmed
The APHA has updated its biosecurity guidance and published a new self-assessment biosecurity checklist.

Temporary control zones have been placed around the premises.

A fifth case of avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry and captive wild birds at a premises in Leicestershire.

This latest case in captive and wild birds follows the discovery of H5N8 avian influenza in Gloucestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire and Kent.
A small number of wild birds in Gloucestershire, Devon and Dorset have also tested positive for the disease.

Temporary control zones of 3km and 10km have been placed around the premises located near Melton Mowbray. However, the pathogenicity has yet to be determined. 

Earlier this month, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was declared across the UK, meaning the bird keepers across England, Scotland and Wales now legally obliged to follow strict biosecurity measures. 

On Friday (20 November), the APHA updated its biosecurity guidance and published a new self-assessment biosecurity checklist for all bird keepers.

Chief veterinary officer for the UK, Christine Middlemiss, said: "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.”

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RCVS Knowledge appoints Veterinary Evidence editor-in-chief

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence.

A world-renowned expert in evidence-based veterinary medicine, Prof Cockcroft will lead the strategic development and editorial quality of the open-access journal. He was previously in the role from 2017-2020.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: "We are excited about the extensive knowledge of evidence-based veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary research that Peter brings, and we look forward to working with him over this next phase of the journal's development." 

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News Shorts
Defra to host bluetongue webinar for vets

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be hosting a webinar for veterinary professional on bluetongue on Thursday, 25 April 2024.

Topics covered will include the transmission cycle, pathology and pathogenesis, clinical signs (including signs seen in recent BTV-3 cases in the Netherlands), and control and prevention.

The session, which will take place from 6pm to 7.30pm, is part of Defra's 'Plan, Prevent and Protect' webinar series, which are hosted by policy officials, epidemiologists and veterinary professionals from Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The bluetongue session will also feature insights from experts from The Pirbright Institute.

Those attending will have the opportunity to ask questions. Places on the webinar can be booked online.