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Avian influenza identified in Gloucestershire
The discovery comes after the introduction of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across Britain.

Temporary control zones have been placed around the infected premises. 

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has confirmed a case of avian influenza in captive birds at a non-poultry premises in Gloucestershire.

In its latest update, Defra reports that a strain of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza has been found at the premises near Stroud.

It reports that 3km and 10km temporary control zones have placed around the infected premises.  However, the pathogenicity of the outbreak is yet to be confirmed.

The discovery comes after the introduction of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Britain following several confirmed cases in captive and wild birds. 

The restrictions mean that keepers with 500 birds or more must restrict access to non-essential people on their sites. Workers are also required to change their clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures, and site vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected daily.

On announcing the measure, the UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency advises that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements and this is in your interests to do, to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.”

The AIPZ was introduced after a decision to raise the risk level for avian influenza incursion in wild birds in Great Britain from ‘medium’ to ‘high’. Earlier this month, two separate, unrelated cases of avian influenza were confirmed in Cheshire and Kent. 

H5N8 avian flu was also confirmed at a broiler breeder farm in Herefordshire. A small number of wild birds in Gloucestershire, Devon and Dorset have also tested positive for the disease. 

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.