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NI vets praised for rapid response to ASF traces
ASF outbreaks have been confirmed in countries such as Belgium, Bulgaria and China.
DNA fragments found in seized passenger luggage 

BVA president Simon Doherty has praised vets and inspectors in Northern Ireland for rapidly detecting traces of African swine fever (ASF) in passenger luggage at airports.

DAERA announced last week that more than 300kg of illegal meat and dairy products were seized at Northern Ireland airports in June. A sample of these were tested at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, revealing fragments of ASF DNA.

ASF can be easily transmitted in infected pork products and outbreaks have been confirmed in countries such as Belgium, Bulgaria and China. Northern Ireland has strict controls banning personal imports of meat and dairy products from most countries outside the EU.

Mr Doherty commented: “It’s very encouraging to see that government vets and inspectors are united in their vigilance to prevent the incursion of this deadly disease. We are fortunate in Northern Ireland to have a surveillance facility like AFBI that can carry out quick and effective testing and continuous monitoring for disease risks.

“African Swine Fever poses a significant and growing threat to animal welfare and agriculture throughout all regions of the UK, so we need to continue to make every effort to curb its spread and raise public awareness of the risks of bringing animal products that may be carrying the disease into the country.

“The seizure of 300 kg of illegally imported products in June alone really underlines the scale of this important task ahead.”

DAERA said that the discovery of ASF fragments in imported products does not pose a significant threat to Northern Ireland’s animal health status. However, it underlines the importance of controls placed on personal imports of meat and dairy products.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."