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Dog vaccination for rabies essential for preventing spread to humans
Cases dropped to just 15 after the mass vaccination programme.
A coordinated and sustain programme of dog vaccination is the key to prevention, study suggests. 

A study led by the University of Glasgow, published today (1 September) in Applied Ecology, has found that rabies frequency in both domestic dogs and humans decreased during a period of sustained dog vaccination in southeast Tanzania, despite ongoing wildlife rabies infections.

The researchers found that after mass dog vaccination ended in Tanzania in 2017, the area saw a rise in rabies cases once again. 

Working in collaboration with Ifkara Health Institute and Imperial College London, the researchers at the University of Glasgow investigated the dynamics of transmission of rabies in Tanzania, in an area where jackals made up more than 40 per cent of reported animal rabies cases. 

Studying across a nine-year period, hospital records were used to identify people potentially exposed to rabies, and then these people were interviewed to determine if the biting animal was rabid. 

During the nine-year study period, it was found that throughout the period of dog vaccinations, cases dropped from a high of 218 in 2011, to just 15 in 2017. 

Senior author of the study, Professor Katie Hampson, commented: “Our findings confirm that, even in areas where wildlife rabies cases are high, focusing on domestic dog vaccination will have major public health benefits. 

“Moreover, if sustained and coordinated a dog vaccination programme has the potential to eliminate rabies from circulating even in these areas despite the presence of wildlife transmission.”

Sarah Hayes, co-author from Imperial College London added: “It is critical that there is continued investment in domestic dog vaccination and this work suggests that the presence of rabies within wildlife populations should not be a barrier to implementing these programmes."

 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.