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Questions raised over EIV vaccine role
New review looks at the efficacy of flu vaccination

A state-of-the-art review published in this month's Equine Veterinary Journal has raised questions about the role of equine flu vaccination in limiting the spread of infection and reducing the severity of clinical signs.

Lead author Dr Janet Daly, a virologist from the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine, investigates how mathematical modelling could help us bring equine influenza (EIV) under control and protect horses more effectively.

The review, entitled "What can mathematical models bring to the control of equine influenza?", collates findings from a number of studies over the past 10 years.

Dr Daly concludes that while vaccination does reduce the occurrence and limit the severity of outbreaks, the protection given by equine flu vaccines is not as straightforward as we may have thought.

According to the review, EIV has the ability to mutate, thereby reducing the effectiveness of older vaccines. According to the review, none of the vaccines currently on sale in the UK contain the most recently recommended strains of the virus.

Although EIV is rarely fatal, it is highly contagious and can cause serious disruptions to training and competition schedules, resulting in large revenue losses in the equine industry.

Dr Daly said: "This study will help further our understanding of how to better protect horses against the effects of equine influenza.

"Mathematical modellers have to make some assumptions in developing models, but models are informed by and tested against real data. As a virologist, I find the questions about the data they need to generate their models challenge me to think differently about the disease."

Meanwhile, the BEVA is working with key parties to encourage further education and surveillance of EIV and establish revised guidelines to facilitate and reduce costs of approvals for vaccine strain updates.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.