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Aberystwyth University receives royal honour for parasite research
Aberystwyth University vice-chancellor Prof Jon Timmis receives the award from the Queen.
The Queen presented the award for research on parasitic flatworms.

Scientists from Aberystwyth University have been recognised during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace for their work on One Health parasite research.

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize celebrated the work of scientists at the University’s Department of Life Sciences, which have been been investigating a group of parasitic flatworms which cause disease in livestock and humans.

The flatworms can cause livestock to develop the devastating disease known as fasciolosis, which affects more than 300 million cattle and 250 million sheep across the world. This costs the agriculture industry over £2.5 billion each year.

It can also cause the tropical disease schistosomiasis in humans. The disease, spread through contaminated fresh water, kills an estimated 12,000 people and infects more than 200 million individuals each year.

The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes are awarded every two years as part of the British Honours system, and recognise outstanding work that benefits the wider world. Run by the Royal Anniversary Trust, they are the highest honours that can be awarded to further and higher education institutions in the UK.

Queen Camilla presented the award to the university’s vice-chancellor Professor Jon Timmis at a ceremony held at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, 22 February.

Prof Jon Timmis said: “It was a great honour to receive the prize from Her Majesty The Queen on behalf of the University. I am so proud that the pioneering work by our scientists is being recognised in this way.”

He added: “Our academics have been studying these parasites for more than a century, analysing their complex lifecycles and host interactions to an unprecedented level of detail and identifying vulnerabilities which can be targeted by new vaccines or drugs. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all those involved in this research, both past and present.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak congratulated the winners, writing: “As your work shows, there is some extraordinary work taking place in British colleges and universities today – and it is being conducted in a spirit of inquiry, public good and a quest for knowledge.

“So let me thank all the Queen’s Anniversary Prize winners for everything you are doing.”

Image © Aberystwyth University

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue cases lead to restricted zone extension

Following the detection of new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include additional parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and part of Dorset.

The zone now covers 28 counties and unitary authorities in England. As of 16 December, 185 cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in England and Wales during the current vector period.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.