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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 16th August 2024
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Peste des petits ruminants outbreaks hit Greece and Romania
Both Greece and Romania have seen thousands of cases since July.
The risk to Great Britain is currently considered very low.

Greece and Romania are currently experiencing outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), the first time the disease has been detected in the EU since 2018.

Greece reported its first case on 8 July and Romania on 15 July. As of 9 August, Greece has seen 47 outbreaks, totalling more than 2,000 cases, and Romania has reported 56 outbreaks, totalling over 5,000 cases.

Control measures have been implemented in both countries, including movement restrictions, increased surveillance, and preventative culling. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has established a PPR vaccine back to support vaccination efforts to control and eradicate the disease in the affected countries.

A viral infection, PPR affects sheep, goats, and some wild ungulates. It has mortality rates of up to 80 per cent. Transport of live infected animals is considered to be the main risk factor for its spread.

The disease is currently the focus of global eradication efforts. WOAH and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have set a target of 2030 for eradication.

There were outbreaks earlier this year in the Caucasus region, with both Turkey and Georgia affected. In recent years the virus has also been detected in various countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

An outbreak assessment, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 August, stated that the risk of the EU outbreak to Great Britain is considered very low.

The UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance has introduced a temporary suspension of imports of live sheep and goats, germplasm, raw milk and raw milk products, and untreated hides, skins, wool and hair from sheep and goats from Greece and Romania.

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."