News

From the week commencing 22nd February 2021 there is a legal obligation in England and Scotland to report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in mammals. Wales and Northern Ireland also intend to introduce similar legislation shortly thereafter to make SARS-CoV-2 reportable. Amendments to the Zoonoses Order 1989 add SARS-CoV-2 to the Order making it a designated organism and its detection reportable. In England, amendments also include changes to the list of animal species for which Salmonella and Brucel...

Currently, the advice from governments across the UK is that there is limited evidence to suggest that companion animals can contract COVID-19 and if they do, they tend to show only mild symptoms and recover within a few days.

Three-quarters of vets are concerned about stress and burnout in the profession as a result of Covid-19, according to a new survey from the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

All of Wales is subject to a 17-day ‘firebreak’ lockdown from 6pm on Friday 23rd October until midnight Sunday 8th November. Veterinary practices in Wales are not exempt from the these Lockdown measures.

Help the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) gain a global picture on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected veterinary practices across the world. Please complete by 19th October 2020.

Public Health England has issued advice on test and trace in recognition of the potential impact on veterinary practices, following lobbying by the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

BSAVA President, Professor Ian Ramsey has commented on the Defra announcement of the first confirmed case of a pet cat infected with COVID-19 in the UK.

The UK’s CVO has confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in the UK. The infection was confirmed following tests at the APHA laboratory in Weybridge on 22 July.

The detection of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in animals meets the criteria for reporting emerging infections to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) (of which the UK is a member country).

The BSAVA has produced advice for veterinary practice clients as to whether or not pets can be vaccinated or neutered during the COVID-19 crisis. The information has been produced for vets to pass on to their clients easily, in the form of downloadable Q&A PDFs.