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Sheep scab figures
High number of cases in north-east Scotland

Recent figures from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) reflect that the north-east of Scotland is worst affected by sheep scab at the moment.

The data shows that almost half of the 76 overall reported sheep scab cases came from Aberdeenshire, with high numbers of cases also reported in Perthshire, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

Sheep scab is caused by mites that feed on the skin surface of sheep, causing severe itching and infection which leads to poor weight gain and fleece damage. It was introduced as a notifiable disease in Scotland in 2010.

There are concerns for a further spread of sheep scab, which is highly contagious, during the upcoming winter months.

Current advice recommends animals bought in with an unknown treatment history should be dosed up for scab upon arrival to the new premises with a single injection of doramectin. 

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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.  

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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.