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Liberia receives ebola serum supply
Medical imagery
The serum treatment will be monitored by doctors in Liberia (stock photo)
Treatment is made from the blood of recovered survivors

Liberia has started to treat patients infected with Ebola with serum therapy - a treatment made from the blood of recovered survivors, the BBC reports.

It is hoped that the experimental treatment will help combat the virus that has been killing thousands of people throughout West Africa.

The ebola serum is made from the blood of survivors, which contain antibodies to fight off the virus. It is made by removing the red blood cells, whilst keeping the important antibodies - which can be used to treat other patients.

In the UK and US, Ebola patients have already received this form of treatment.

The serum treatment will be monitored by doctors in Liberia, who will monitor how safe and effective the therapy is.

A number of Liberian health care workers have been trained to give the serum.

Dr David Hoover, the programme's director, said: "This will empower local health care systems to become more self-sufficient and better serve their patients during this current epidemic as well as in the future."

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.