New Surveillance Group for England and Wales
A new advisory group on veterinary surveillance in England and Wales has been welcomed by the profession. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) set up the independent advisory group to recommend a future delivery model for veterinary surveillance in England and Wales.
The group includes representatives from government, the veterinary profession, livestock farming and private laboratories, and is under the chairmanship of Dirk Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has already expressed the hope that the Group will develop modernised surveillance strategies based on the country's future needs and not cost cutting.
Commenting, Carl Padgett, President of the BVA, said: “Veterinary surveillance is an essential component in our animal health, public health, food security, and international trade work. The emergence of Schmallenberg virus in ruminants in northern Europe demonstrates the current value and ongoing need for a robust surveillance system to work both nationally and internationally.”
“The BVA welcomes the establishment of the advisory group and particularly the wide range of veterinary expertise and experience that is represented on the group. It is important that views from both veterinary practitioners and veterinary scientists are fed into this review. While we understand that AHVLA and Defra must ensure value for money from the surveillance network, any future model must be shaped by good surveillance strategies, not the need to cut costs.
“We urge all practitioners in England and Wales to contribute to the discussions by completing the online survey.
He concluded: “We look forward to engaging with the advisory group as it carries out the review and beyond.”
The AHVLA will be publishing an online survey in mid-January aimed at individual veterinary practitioners and livestock keepers to gather individual opinions on the inputs, mechanisms, outputs and value of surveillance in England and Wales.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
