The OIE and FEI called for new protocols for the movement of "high health, high performance" sport horses at the 80th General Session of the World Assembly of World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) Delegates in Paris last week. The OIE and FEI are continuing their collaboration to define and create a sub-population of horses to reflect the high health status of top level, international equestrian sport horses. The recognition of a lower disease risk among these horses would better facilitate their cross-border movement by national Veterinary Services. "As a result of the high increase in international equestrian sport, important constraints to the movement of horses have been revealed. It is clear that there is a need to define the criteria for healthy, high performance horses as a sub-population, which reflects the low level of disease risk involved in their movement," explained OIE Director General, Dr Bernard Vallat as he opened the General Session on Sunday 20 May. His comments reflect the growing aw ...

New research indicates the potential for tangible benefits

A survey of equine veterinary practices in Queensland Australia has shown that some veterinarians have stopped doing equine work because of the risks posed by Hendra virus. Hendra virus (HeV) infection primarily affects fruit bats, but was first reported in horses in 1994. During the initial outbreak 14 horses died. Seven other horses were shown to have been infected and were humanely destroyed. Human infections, although uncommon, most  often affect people in contact with horses. Of seven cases of human HeV infection, five have involved equine veterinary personnel conducting post mortem  or endoscopic examinations. In three cases the infection was fatal. A study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, explored the issues faced by  staff of equine veterinary practices relating to HeV infection-control and workplace health and safety. The research team from James Cook University, in Townsville, Queensland, was led by Diana Mendez. They interviewed 21 veterinarians and other staff from 14 e ...

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has today  launched its Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme with the award of the VMD's first Accredited Internet Retailer logos to 7 retailers responsible for a total of 10 websites selling veterinary medicines. In welcoming the first retailers to be accredited, Professor Pete Borriello, Chief Executive of the VMD said: "The VMD's Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme will be of great help to people who want to buy appropriate and effective medicines for their animals from the internet.  It gives them confidence that they are dealing with VMD accredited retailers whose websites and retail operations have been inspected against the UK's Veterinary Medicines Regulations. This will significantly reduce the risk of people buying veterinary medicines that are not authorised for use in the UK or are not suitable for their animals. It is excellent news for animal owners that 10 websites have achieved accreditation.  The VMD is keen to see even more retailers apply for accr ...

As the London Olympics draw nearer, an increasing number of overseas equestrian teams are basing their horses in the UK. Some will use local practices for their veterinary care but others will also bring their team vet. Away from their practice and facilities, many of these team vets will seek to work alongside local equine practices and this can be an interesting and fruitful professional relationship for all concerned. However, it is worth noting that if you work alongside team vets, you may also have a duty of care to the owner of the horse, even if you are merely observing what is being done. All teams' vets must be registered as practising members of the RCVS and will need to change their status if they are overseas members. There are no exemptions simply because they are with an Olympic team. You should satisfy yourself that they are registered with the RCVS and that they have appropriate professional indemnity insurance that covers the work they carry out in the UK. All veterinary surgeons who care ...

Congratulations to the RCVS for receiving the MemComm Award

Following reports of equine influenza (EI) outbreaks linked to horses attending various events held in north-western France in the past few weeks, the Animal Health Trust's OIE reference laboratory for EI is asking equine veterinary surgeons to take full advantage of their on-going EI surveillance initiatives, which have been generously supported for many years now by the UK's Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry under the auspices of HBLB funding.  The AHT laboratories would be very happy to receive any samples from horses in which EI may be suspected and in particular from animals in yards where there may have been recent introduction of infection through return of animals from competition events, both here in the UK and from mainland Europe. AHT and BEVA feel that this heightened surveillance activity for probably the most potentially infectious and rapidly spreading equine infectious disease is particularly important at this time, given that a) the London Olympics are now less than 3 months awa ...

  Former Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) President, Professor Sandy Trees, will be appointed to the House of Lords as a non-party-political (cross-bench) peer, following recommendation by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.   Professor Trees, who was President of the RCVS in 2009-2010, has served on the College Council for 12 years. He becomes only the second veterinary surgeon to take a seat in the House of Lords, joining Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior.   "This is a great honour, and a wonderful opportunity," says Professor Trees. "I look forward to the prospect of ensuring that legislation relating to animal health and welfare is fit for purpose, but I also feel that veterinary surgeons have a great deal to offer society more broadly, and I will relish the opportunity of raising the profile of the profession and what it can contribute.   "Beyond the immediate veterinary sphere, my areas of experience include science, the environment, education, middle eastern politics and tropical medici ...

The independent body has offered reassurance that the election was fair

Could you help lead BEVA? Nomination forms are now available