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New five-year plan against AMR announced
The next five-year plan will run from 2024 to 2029.
It forms part of the government’s plans to control AMR by 2040.

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched the second stage of its five-year plan, as it seeks to control antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by 2040.

The latest National Action Plan (NAP) seeks to build upon work completed as part of the previous five-year plan, and sets new ambitious targets for reducing antibiotic use.

New commitments will see the UK, including the veterinary sector, challenged to reduce its usage of antimicrobials in humans and animals. It also calls for tighter surveillance of drug resistant infections, and more incentive for industries to develop new treatments.

The five-year plan, which will run from 2024 to 2029, covers nine strategic outcomes organised into four themes.

Firstly, the NAP intends to reduce the necessity of, and unintentional exposure to, antimicrobials. To achieve this, work will focus on preventing infections, monitoring their emergence and spread, and minimising their release into the environment.

The efficacy of existing microbials will be protected by optimising their use, ensuring that they are only used when needed.

Innovation, supply and access is set to be encouraged, as the government seeks to find new vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. Manufacturers will be incentivised to make them accessible to those who need them, and to ensure their work is founded in AMR research.

Finally the UK will look to remain an international leader in AMR, supporting low- and middle-income countries as they also challenge AMR.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, said: “The UK has made fantastic progress in the past 10 years to reduce AMR in animals, working between government, farming industry, vets, and animal keepers to reduce the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals by more than half.
 
“The new National Action Plan will build upon these achievements, and I urge vets and animal keepers to continue to support the UK’s 20-year vision to contain and control AMR.”

The Responsible use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance has also welcomed the next stage of the plan.

RUMA chair Cat McLaughlin said: “RUMA is very pleased to see the launch of the second five-year National Action Plan today which further supports and drives UK efforts to tackle AMR from a One Health perspective.

“In the UK, the responsible use of medicines across UK farming is already part of everyday language, with farmers and vets working collaboratively to embed best practice for responsible use and reductions across all sectors.”

Image © Shutterstock

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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
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.