APHA releases disease data for non-commercial chicken flocks in new interactive format
The APHA has published an avian disease surveillance dashboard, which contains data from across GB on non-notifiable diseases in small, non-commercial chicken flocks.
The dashboard presents the data in an easy-to-use format with an interactive map, allowing vets to see where diseases have been diagnosed by region, country or GB-wide. It includes the most common diagnoses in different age categories and with different presenting signs. Once a view has been selected, it can be downloaded as an image to use in a document or presentation.
The dashboard incorporates veterinary diagnoses from non-commercial, hobby and small-scale flocks of chickens up to a maximum of 350 egg-laying chickens and 2,000 chickens reared for meat.
It has been developed to share surveillance information from 2007 onwards derived from submissions to the GB veterinary diagnostic network, which is made up of:
- APHA’s Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs) across England and Wales
- The network of universities and other surveillance partners working with APHA
- Scotland’s Rural College Disease Surveillance Centres in Scotland operated by SAC Consulting Veterinary Services
In 2017, APHA also successfully launched dashboards for sheep, cattle and pigs.
New guidance for Pet Passport completion
A new set of guidance for OVs completing Pet Passports has recently been published on the Vet Gateway. The document (ET159 – The EU Pet Travel Scheme: How to complete pet passports) is available to view on the APHA website.
The ET140 Pet Travel Scheme frequently asked questions is still available and will be reviewed and updated as necessary.
Please also be advised that the following guidance documents have been removed from the Vet Gateway:
- ET138 EU pet passport guidance notes for completion of old model passports issued before 29 December 2014
- ET139 EU pet passport guidance notes for completion of new model passports issued after 28 December 2014
- ET141 The EU Pet Travel Scheme: the new pet passport
OV briefings
30 January
Postponement of revalidation of OCQ(V) export related modules
OVs due to revalidate their Export Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) UX, EQ, PX, AX, GX*, should note that revalidation has been postponed until further notice.
16 March
Post mortem and diagnostic services and availability of free carcase collection in England and Wales
A reminder about APHA post mortem examination services and the availability of the free carcase collection service for farmers located more than an hour from one of APHA’s PME sites. The briefing note also outlines other services available to veterinarians and the support APHA can offer in disease diagnosis.
11 April
Introduction of case scenarios to the OCQ(V) TT revalidation course
From 10 May 2018, case scenarios will be introduced to the revalidation course for the OCQ(V) TT. Candidates will be able to opt to submit case logs as per the current course requirement or complete case scenarios as part of the course. In time, the requirement to submit case logs will be removed.
Government veterinarians wellbeing scoping survey
A new survey is intended to capture information relating to the well-being of veterinarians undertaking government work. The survey has been launched by the Association of Government Veterinarians in close collaboration with Government Veterinary Services. It applies both to vets directly employed by government departments and those working for government under contract, such as OVs. The aim is to recognise and help raise awareness of the multiple challenges faced by veterinarians undertaking roles for government as a distinct subset of the veterinary profession.
