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Schmallenberg Virus found in UK cattle
AHVLA also confirms 29 sheep farms now infected

The Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) has been identified in cattle in UK territory for the first time after the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) confirmed the presence of the virus in cattle from a West Sussex farm. The disease is known to affect many ruminants, but all previous infections in cattle were in Belgium, Holland and Germany. Additional tests on this positive sample are in progress.

Previously, all confirmed cases in UK territory have been in sheep. AHVLA also announced a dramatic increase in the number of confirmed cases in UK sheep. The current count of confirmed cases has jumped from 11 last week to a total of 29. The 29 cases are in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and Hertfordshire, indicating that the number of counties affected by the virus has also expanded to include West Sussex and Hertfordshire. The above counties are all in areas that were always believed to be at risk in light of the hypothesis that the disease was spread by infected midges being blown across the North Sea and English Channel by prevailing winds last summer.

Surveillance for the infection has been escalated across the UK and the number of samples submitted to AHVLA for confirmation continues to increase. However, many vets have warned that the number of confirmed cases does not reflect the true extent of the outbreak and that, due to the mild nature of immediate symptoms and the more severe but later stillbirths and congenital defects, it will only be possible to gauge the scale of the outbreak at lambing or calving.

AHVLA have confirmed that they believe this development is ‘in line with our current understanding of SBV’ but have warned that the risk the virus poses ‘might increase as new information becomes available about the extent of infection in Europe’. Once again, AHVLA have stressed that current thinking does not consider SBV to be dangerous to humans and that there have been no reports of  zoonotic infections. Nevertheless, investigations are in progress on a precautionary basis. “As this is a new virus, work is ongoing to identify whether it could cause any health problems in humans,” it said.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.