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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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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.