A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The infected flock contains nine birds. Defra says a number had died and the remaining live birds at the premises are being humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection.
Full details of the control measures in place can be found here.
Farmers within the Protection Zone (PZ) are being urged by the Joint Action against Bluetongue (JAB) to vaccinate their animals if they have not already done so.
In a joint statement JAB said: "The vaccination campaign is going exceptionally well with more than 9 million does of vaccine made available to farmers in the PZ. However, we must not be complacent, as there are still more animals to vaccinate and we must not delay in protecting them from bluetongue.
"As the weather conditions improve, the risk of new cases of bluetongue increases and the objective of the JAB campaign has been to try and protect the UK from the devastation this disease caused in much of the rest of Europe last year. We do not want to see in the UK the heavy losses of sheep seen by some other member states or the fertility problems seen in many cattle herds. The message is simple - if you want to protect your livestock, ‘don't hesitate, vaccinate'."
Commenting on the recent delays in vaccine delivery, JAB said: "It is unfortunate that we have seen a problem with the latest batch of vaccine, which for quality control reasons is undergoing further testing. JAB understands the frustration that this delay has caused. However, this is just one batch and Intervet has so far exceeded delivery expectations and we are hopeful that we will be back on track very soon."
BCF has launched a series of instructional videos demonstrating how to perform an ultrasound examination of the bovine reproductive tract, now available online.
The videos were developed by BCF's in-house vet, Kimberly Palgrave, in collaboration with the University of Bristol Veterinary School. They show everything from machine set up and controls, to scanning techniques and features identified in pregnant and non-pregnant cows.
One hour of CPD can be earned by completing a self-assessment quiz after watching the videos.
Kimberly said: "Following the success of the small animal series of instructional videos, we were keen to bring something similar to the bovine market. Our aim for these videos is to give vets a resource to help them either transition from manual palpation to ultrasound or improve their existing ultrasound skills and gain confidence in their technique, as well as being a useful teaching resource for veterinary students. As always, we welcome feedback and suggestions for the future."
To see the videos, visit the farm animal learning section of the BCF website www.bcftechnology.com.
Vets are being asked to help pig producers assess their health status and biosecurity measures, as part of BPEX's new National Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP).
The national programme is currently running alongside existing programmes in East Anglia, Yorkshire and the East Midlands and will cover all the remaining regions. BPEX will now start to combine all programmes into the National PHIP. So all English pig producers and vets can join the industry-wide drive to improve pig health and reduce costs.
BPEX says the national Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP) project will need the support of veterinary surgeons to:
BPEX regional health coordinator Helen Clarke said: "The surveys are filled in by vets during quarterly farm visits to gather information on prevalence of four key diseases - swine dysentery, PRRS, enzootic pneumonia and mange. This is then used to populate a confidential online mapping service, which PHIP members can use to keep informed of health challenges in their area.
"The biosecurity audit is a series of simple to answer questions about current biosecurity practice of a unit. This then forms the basis for biosecurity planning and discussions to help clients make improvements and review their impact."
A further benefit when producers sign up to the PHIP is free-of-charge post-mortem information from the BPEX Pig Health Scheme (BPHS). The BPHS provides producers with detailed post-mortem health reports when they submit pigs to participating abattoirs.
Clients who are:
Practices can claim £50 per unit for completing the survey and biosecurity audits. This still needs to be claimed through specific regional systems because of current funding contracts.
Contact Helen Clarke for details: helen.clarke@bpex.ahdb.org.uk or 07973 701369. Visit http://www.pighealth.org.uk/
Birds at two Bernard Matthews breeder sites in Suffolk and Norfolk have tested positive for avian influenza, though not the highly pathogenic H5 or H7 types.
A movement restriction has been put in place by DEFRA, but a cull has not so far been required. The BBC has the full story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7912529.stm
The BVA has welcomed Defra Secretary of Sate Hilary Benn's announcement on the arrival of the first batch of Bovilis(r) BTv8 vaccine in the UK.
Congratulating Intervet on the speed with which the vaccine had been developed BVA President Nick Blayney said: "This news represents a crucial stage in our fight against Bluetongue. The last few months have been a particularly busy time as the end of the vector-free period approached bringing with it the threat of more cases of Bluetongue."
BTv8 is devastating in its second season and the BVA was delighted to join with organisations from across the livestock sector to launch the Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).
"Our aim has been to achieve the mass vaccination of Bluetongue susceptible animals, including goats and camelids and since the veterinary profession is the corner stone of the vaccination programme, with responsibility for vaccine delivery, proper usage and monitoring for efficacy, BVA has been in overdrive through much of March and April trying to ensure that vets were fully up to speed in advance of the arrival of the vaccine. Now that the vaccine is here, having been granted a provisional marketing authorisation for use inside Protection Zones and classified as a POM-V, we have further updated our advice to the profession. Our one-page summary sets out key considerations for vets including meeting the "under our care" prescribing requirements, movement controls, doses, off-label use, distribution and storage and communication in the hopefully unlikely event of any suspected adverse reactions."
Mr Blayney was highly complimentary of the co-operation and shared sense of purpose demonstrated by all those involved with JAB and was proud that the message - Bluetongue - Don't Hesitate - Vaccinate! Contact Your Vet Today - had emphasised the unique role of the vet in the protection of animal health and welfare.
Ceva Animal Health has announced two additional dates and locations for its ‘Building Success Around the Fertility Routine Visit’ CPD days for young vets.
Part of Ceva’s reprodAction programme, the courses are intended for recent graduates, or those new to dairy practice.
The two upcoming meetings, listed on VetSurgeon.org's new RSVP-enabled CPD & Events Diary, are to be held at The Best Western Dryfesdale Hotel in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway on 22nd September and the West Lancashire Investment Centre in Skelmersdale, Lancashire on 23rd September.
The company says that the courses adopt a novel ‘physiology first’, practical approach to managing cattle reproduction, and have been set up to support vets in performing routine fertility visits. They cover various topics including: identifying clients’ goals, setting herd targets and increasing pregnancy rates.
Katherine Timms, Veterinary Advisor at Ceva, said: “We have had such positive feedback from the previous events, it has encouraged us to organise more, giving vets from other areas in the UK an opportunity to attend”.
“Routine fertility visits often intimidate recent graduates, as they are normally performed solo, with little or no support. This can make it hard for vets to build confidence, which this course addresses by not only providing knowledge but also by vets who are at the same stage in their careers to interact and share experiences.”
An attendee of the course held in April, Amy Cox from Nantwich Farm Vets, spoke about her highlights of the event, saying: “It really gave me the confidence in my own knowledge of cow reproduction and helped me build on what I’d already got.
“The lecturers were really engaging and the content was highly interactive which I feel helps you learn more. This is the second reprodAction CPD course that I’ve been on so I would recommend them”.
Paddy Gordon, Director of Shepton Veterinary Group, is one of the leaders of the event. He said: “Cattle reproduction CPD can be complex and is usually theory based; these events aim to cover the basics and most importantly, how to implement it all practically. This includes how to communicate concepts to farmers, through group discussion and role play and how to implement treatment protocols practically.”
Vets who are interested in attending either of the upcoming reprodAction Young Vet Initiative CPD courses can apply via Ceva Territory Managers, Bryan Hamilton on 07753 447226 or bryan.hamilton@ceva.com for the Lockerbie meeting and Kimberly Campbell on 07831 359128 or kimberly.campbell@ceva.com for the Skelmersdale meeting.
And if you're going, don't forget to use the RSVP facility on VetSurgeon.org to let other members know you'll be there.
The University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences has announced the launch of an online map-based tool which forecasts the risk of a Nematodirus outbreak in lambs.
The Nematodirus risk map, which will be updated daily, is designed to help UK sheep farmers assess the risk of outbreaks of the parasite in their lambs and take action before it is too late. It includes treatment and management advice.
The online risk forecast was developed by SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep) and researchers at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences to predict when Nematodirus eggs will hatch and when outbreaks are likely to happen.
Researchers say that predicting when outbreaks might happen is becoming increasingly difficult due to variation in spring temperatures from year to year. Farmers can no longer rely on a standard timetable of treatments to avoid disease. As the damage is done by the larvae, faecal egg counts are of little use in detecting and controlling Nematodirus in young lambs.
The forecast takes advantage of the temperature-driven synchronised hatching of the Nematodirus larvae and uses weather data from 140 weather stations provided by the Met Office and Forecast.io. The interactive Google map allows farmers and advisers to select the nearest or most representative weather station and provides advice on how to relate the predicted risk to their particular farm and treatment options.
Cases of nematodirosis and eggs detected in routine faecal worm egg counts will also be mapped anonymously as they arise to improve the forecasts and SCOPS are asking farmers, advisors and diagnostic labs to contribute to these records by emailing researcher Dr Hannah Rose at the University of Bristol’s Vet School.
Dr Rose said: "In previous years 64 per cent of farmers and advisors surveyed changed the timing or extent of treatment – or advised treatment - after consulting the forecast, which has been running since 2013, and 93 per cent felt that their approach to control of this parasite had changed as a result of the forecast."
UK Government funding provided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has enabled further development of the forecast and it is hoped that even more farmers will benefit in 2016.
Picture: A Romney sheep with its lambs, courtesy Dr Eric Morgan, University of Bristol
AviPro Salmonella vac E, the live oral vaccine against Salmonella enteritidis made by Lohmann Animal Health, is now available in larger size vials of 5,000 doses, supplied in packs of ten. More information from: Anna-Christina Riebau, Lohmann Animal Health, Germany. Telephone: +49 (0) 4721 747 217
SMITHS Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, today announces it is to launch a portable detection system that will enable veterinarians to carry out on-site diagnosis of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth and avian flu.
This new technology means vets will be able to diagnose diseases in livestock and birds in the field in less than 90 minutes rather than having to send samples for laboratory analysis.
The new system will be launched to vets at the World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians conference in Australia in November 2007 and is expected to be in production in mid 2008.
From today, porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) is a notifiable disease in England; veterinary surgeons and pig-keepers are now legally required to inform the Animal and Plant Health Agency of any suspicion of the disease.
If a test for PED proves positive, the Government will inform AHDB Pork, so that tracing can be carried out and improved biosecurity measures put in place.
The new measure has been introduced following co-operation between Defra APHA, AHDB Pork, the NPA and other industry bodies. Although PED is now classified as notifiable, there will be no statutory movement controls, no compulsory slaughter and no blocks on exports.
Under the new legislation in England, APHA will be legally permitted to inform AHDB Pork - which is the agreed 'appropriate organisation' - in confidence of suspect and confirmed cases. AHDB Pork will then provide biosecurity guidance to the pig unit concerned. It will also carry out tracing and alert at-risk contacts as necessary.
The aim will be to prevent spread of PED and to eliminate the disease from the pig unit. There will be no requirement to slaughter affected animals.
PED has been made lightweight notifiable following an informal consultation process with the pig industry. NPA and others called for the measure so that any outbreak can be identified as quickly as possible, spread can be prevented, and the disease can then be eliminated from the unit concerned.
AHDB Pork Chairman Meryl Ward said: "This initiative is a significant step change in partnership working between industry, Defra and the APHA to build England’s resilience to disease.
"PED is a potentially serious disease and emerging threat to our English pig industry. A unique industry led collaboration with Government led to the development of the PEDv Contingency plan to ‘identify, contain and eliminate’.
"The regulatory change to notifiable status is a critical part of the plan and will assist in early identification of affected premises, allowing more time to take effective actions to minimise the impact on the industry and therefore increasing the opportunity to eliminate the disease.
"Working together to share resource, knowledge and build vital expertise, the partnership has also developed a series of standard operating procedures, bio- security guidance as well as raising awareness across industry of the potential threat.
PED remains a significant threat to British pig-keepers. According to AHDB, outbreaks of high-impact strains caused up to 100% mortality in young pigs in the United States, knocking out around 10% of pig production in 2013-2014. The disease has since spread to Ukraine. Even with milder European Union strains, piglet mortality as high as 70% has been reported.
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on making PED similarly lightweight notifiable in Scotland.
The BVA and the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) have welcomed the announcement. John Blackwell, Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "From today pig-keepers will be required to contact APHA if they have any suspicion of PED in their livestock - this is a step in the right direction and a result of joined up working between the industry, the veterinary profession and policy makers. PED is a devastating disease and we hope these measures will be sufficient to protect animals and pig-keepers in England from future outbreaks. We are encouraged by current proposals to make PED notifiable in Scotland and are keen to see similar measures in place across the rest of the UK."
Dr Mandy Nevel, President of the Pig Veterinary Society, said: "The Pig Veterinary Society was actively involved in the decision to make PED notifiable in England and we fully support the decision. Whilst we hope PED does not come into England, the legislation will facilitate rapid diagnosis, control and eradication in the event of a case occurring. We urge the rest of the UK to take similar action."
Photo: Ben Salter: Pig in a bucket
Schering-Plough has launched a new business development support package to help farm animal vets increase the proportion of beef and dairy producers vaccinating their cattle against bovine leptospirosis.
According to results from the Bovine Leptospirosis Information and Screening Service (BLiSS), leptospirosis is all but endemic in UK beef and dairy herds. Latest data continue to show that more than 70% of unvaccinated herds have been exposed to infection, yet only around one herd in three experiences the positive benefits and return on investment from vaccination.
Integral to the new Leptavoid-H business development package is updated information on the true cost of infertility in UK cattle herds. “Vets have been telling us they need up-to-date financial information to highlight the sub-fertility leptospirosis can cause. Now we’ve researched and produced the new costing data they need,” explained Paul Williams MRCVS, livestock veterinary adviser, Schering-Plough UK.
The new package helps practitioners identify vaccination growth opportunities by segmenting their client base and is also strong on marketing guidance. For each identified segment there are a series of practical actions - many supported by Schering-Plough materials and human resources - as well as hints, tips and sales tools to help vets convert opportunities into new business.
Esme grew up in Birmingham and spent much time in her teenage years working at the Domestic Fowl Trust caring for a range of rare breed poultry.
She said: "I didn’t grow up on a farm, but worked with chickens as a teenager and I love them to bits.
"They are amazing animals and I’ve wanted to work with them ever since.”
After graduating at the University of Liverpool, she spent two years with Howells Veterinary Services where she worked with clients to foster improved performance under an increasing drive for sustainability.
Now with St David’s Poultry Team in Yorkshire, she helps broiler clients in reducing viral challenge on farm to increase immunocompetence and so decrease susceptibility to other challenges.
She has also just become the youngest vet ever to achieve a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Poultry), which she gained at the University of Liverpool.
The Young Farm Vet of the Year Awards is sponsored by Zoetis.
FMDThere is no change is situation of FMD we still have 7 IPs. The temporary control zone near Maidenhead, Berkshire should be lifted shortly.
Movements between the low risks and the risk areas are allowed using licence 450 but once the animal has entered risk area they cannot leave and become subject to the movement restrictions of the risk area.
BTA fifth cow has proved positive on clinical signs on a new farm in the Ipswich area, however, it is still not possible to show spread within the country. The OIE is to be notified that cases of Bluetongue are occurring but there is still no evidence of transmission from animal to animal through vectors.
Four of the five animals with BT have been diagnosed on classical clinical signs as outlined in various articles.
For completeness all the signs have been in cattle and include:
The research aims to establish:
To take part in the survey, which takes between 10 and 15 minutes, click here.
Photo: I, Flukeman
Expert speakers at Advances in Diagnostics, a meeting held in Brussels last month, have said that molecular technology will play a vital role in safeguarding the health and productivity of food animals in the future.
Dr Willie Loeffen, President of the European Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (EAVLD) said: "Technology is taking over. Laboratory diagnosis used to be 99% labour and 1% technology, nowadays the emphasis is the other way around. Technology is now an integral and indispensable part of veterinary laboratories."
Dr Loeffen used the investigation of PRRSV infection in pigs and the more recent appearance of Schmallenberg virus in Europe to highlight how modern molecular techniques could help to characterise new disease threats rapidly.
"It took four years of laborious work for us to characterise the cause of PRRS, but thanks to sequencing technology Schmallenberg virus took just a few months.
"Technological developments mean that diagnosticians now do things that they could only dream about 10 or 20 years ago."
As well as providing a means of identifying new disease threats quickly, the meeting highlighted the increasing role of diagnostic tools as an integral part of maintaining animal health.
Dr Kirk Adams, Director of Product Management at Life Technologies, the meeting sponsor, said: "Diagnostics are no longer just a way of finding out what an animal died of - they have a multitude of uses on farm. They mean that we can take a more holistic and proactive approach to animal health; in contrast to the reactive, disease-driven approach of the past.
"As just one example, better diagnostics allow a more targeted approach to treatment, and the potential to reduce the use of broad-spectrum drugs - such as certain antibiotics - and thus comply with the wishes of consumers and legislators."
Dr Adams said that modern diagnostic tools also provided the means to improve vaccination programmes and biosecurity, and were essential for disease eradication schemes and for improving herd health status, for example by identifying persistently infected, asymptomatic animals.
They also enable veterinary surgeons to monitor herd health and build up an accurate and dynamic picture of health status and risk profile - and screen for emerging disease threats.
Dr Adams added: "Veterinarians now have access to a wider range of better diagnostics than ever before. Tests are now faster, more accurate and more precise than ever before.
"The next twenty years could see the biggest change in the way we manage production animals in over a hundred years."
The meeting was also addressed by Dr Kees van Maanen, from the Netherlands Animal health Service (GD), an expert in modern diagnostic technology and its application on both local and national levels. He called for greater international co-operation to protect European animals against threats from increasing global interaction. He said: "Pathogens and insects do not respect borders: trusting each other's results requires further harmonization and transparency for diagnostic procedures between laboratories and countries.
"Rapid and accurate diagnosis contributes to disease management, but does not stop epidemics. However, it has contributed significantly to gaining insight into the epidemiology of emerging diseases and formulating appropriate measures.
"The development of modern diagnostics has given us the potential to manage animal health and control infectious diseases in production animals far more effectively in the past - both on a local level and a national or regional level. Recent experience with unexpected disease outbreaks has shown that we can now characterise and track pathogens far more quickly and accurately than ever before.
"However, we need to make sure that we keep veterinarians and farmers informed about these developments, so they know how to apply them in practice in order to make the most of them.
"Diagnostics will continue to become a more integral part of animal health management in the next decade, we just need to make sure we can apply that knowledge in the best possible way."
The British Veterinary Association has reiterated its call for heightened vigilance following confirmation by AHVLA that Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has been detected on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex.
At this early stage the virus is understood to be vector-borne (although other routes of transmission have not been ruled out) and the clinical signs seen along with meteorological modelling of risk suggests that the four farms were affected during summer/autumn 2011, with congenital defects now becoming visible at lambing time.
Animals imported from the affected areas in northern Europe are also considered to be potentially at risk and their destination in the UK has been identified.
Congenital deformities and nervous defects are seen in newborn lambs, goat kids and calves. Clinical signs in affected cattle include pyrexia (fever), milk drop, and diarrhoea similar to what is often termed 'winter dysentery'. Farmers should be looking out for clusters of these signs within herds and flocks and reporting them to their veterinary surgeon.
Vets who are aware of suspicious clinical signs on their client's farms should report them to AHVLA, SAC or the local DARD divisional veterinary office for further investigation.
AHVLA, SAC and DARD have stated that they are keen to investigate potential cases and there will be no extra charge for the SBV tests that are undertaken, but their approaches are slightly different.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland AHVLA and AFBI are carrying out SBV-only testing (ie to rule the disease in or out) free of charge but are charging the standard subsidised investigation charge for any additional diagnostic work.
In Scotland any carcases submitted for post mortem examinations are examined at the standard fee and all necessary examinations required by the VIO to investigate the case are included in the fee. SAC is not charging an additional fee for SBV testing.
Carl Padgett, President of the BVA, said: "The confirmation of Schmallenberg virus in sheep flocks in England is a reminder to vets and farmers across the UK to step up vigilance amongst ruminants.
"The BVA would encourage vets to speak to their local AHVLA, SAC or DARD team to discuss any suspect cases and consider submitting specimens for further investigation. We understand that in confirmed cases clinical signs occur in clusters and vets should ensure they know what to look for in both adult and perinatal ruminants.
"While the cases in the south east of England suggest the virus is vector-borne other potential routes of transmission are still being considered. Although the risk of zoonosis is believed to be very low it has not been ruled out and a sensible precautionary approach should be taken by those handling infected animals and specimens."
Defra has announced the detection of Bluetongue in 18 imported cattle on premises near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. The animals originated from within the BTV8 Restricted Zone in Germany and were detected as a result of post-import testing carried out by Defra on all Bluetongue susceptible animals arriving from Continental Europe.
This is the fourth incidence of infected animals being imported to the UK. Alongside the premises in East Sussex, Hertfordshire and Devon identified in August, the imported animals will remain under restrictions.
As of 1 September the whole of England and Wales is now in a Protection Zone and approximately 30 million doses of vaccine have so far been made available to farmers throughout England and Wales to protect their stock. However, it may take up to six to eight weeks from now for livestock keepers in the North of England and Wales to have had sufficient opportunity to vaccinate their livestock and to gain immunity (at least three weeks in sheep, and six weeks in cattle).
To allow livestock keepers in those areas sufficient opportunity to protect their animals, and while further veterinary investigations are carried out, these particular infected animals will remain under restriction until late October. Any further positive import cases detected may also be restricted for a period of time depending on veterinary risk assessment, while vaccination continues.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Alick Simmons said: "This incident shows how important it is for farmers to consider potential disease risks when buying stock, regardless of source. Buyers need to consider how best to protect their own businesses and those of their neighbours and make sure they are clear about the stock they are intending to buy.
"I also want to remind farmers about the importance of vaccination. It is the only effective tool to protect susceptible animals from Bluetongue. Recent evidence indicates a drop or delay in vaccine take-up in counties recently brought into the Protection Zone. Sales data for some of those counties suggest that the number of animals vaccinated in these areas could be as low as one in three, and in Northumberland and Cumbria, the most recent counties brought into the Protection Zone, as low as one in five.
"The threat from Bluetongue is present and real, as shown by the most recent import cases. Vaccination as a preventive measure is therefore more important than ever, so the message to the industry remains clear: don't hesitate, vaccinate".
With just a few days to go before the first anniversary of bluetongue being detected in England, the JAB campaign group is urging farmers to vaccinate their livestock to stop the disease from taking hold in this country as it has in Europe.
So far this year France has reported 4,543 cases of bluetongue, including cases in Calais, and the Netherlands has just confirmed its first case of the disease in 2008. The affected small holding reported a sick cow found with serotype eight which had not been vaccinated against infection.
With the threat of bluetongue re-emergence in the UK growing by the day, JAB leaders have issued a reminder to farmers to contact their vets as soon as their region is in the protection zone and vaccine is available.
In a statement JAB said: "The amount of cases being reported across Europe shows the disease is on the move. This most recent case in Holland demonstrates that not vaccinating livestock leaves farmers vulnerable to outbreaks now the midge season has started.
"The industry has rallied behind the JAB campaign and has done tremendously well in terms of vaccination. Nearly 19 million doses have already been made available to English farmers, and with another nine million doses planned to be released in the coming weeks we need those areas that are new to the protection zone to vaccinate as soon as they are able. We must remember bluetongue could already be circulating in areas where outbreaks occurred last year so the risks to everyone are very real.
"The explosion in the number of cases on the continent also acts as a timely reminder to those farmers in the current protection zone who have not vaccinated and the dangers this presents to their unprotected livestock
"We are entering the peak period for midge activity so vaccination is the only way to prepare and protect us from any potential outbreaks that may emerge in the coming weeks."