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

Two avian influenza cases confirmed in Norfolk
H5N8 avian influenza has been confirmed in Norfolk.

Highly pathogenic H5N8 identified at two turkey-rearing farms.

There were two new confirmed cases of avian influenza over the weekend in Norfolk, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in poultry and captive birds in the UK to nine.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the birds tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza.

A 3km Protection and 10km Surveillance Zone has been placed around the infected turkey farms - one located near Attleborough and the other near King's Lynn. Defra said that all birds on the infected farms will be humanely culled to prevent further spread of the disease.

According to the Eastern Daily Press, this is the first time the highly pathogenic strain has been confirmed in Norfolk since 2017.

It follows an announcement from the UK's chief veterinary officers that all bird keepers will be legally required to keep their birds indoors from the 14 December.

This decision runs alongside the current AIPZ measures that were introduced last month following several confirmed cases in captive and wild birds.

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

Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.