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First Zika Microcephaly birth reported in Europe 
Pregnant
Medics delivered the baby by Caesarean section and say the mother has developed 'no complications'.

Baby reported as 'clinically stable'

A Spanish hospital has reported Europe's first known case of Zika-related Microcephaly.

In a statement, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, announced that a woman gave birth on Sunday (24 July) to a baby with the disease.

Felix Castillo, head of Vall d'Hebron's Neonatal Hospital, explained that while the baby's head is smaller than normal, the child is 'clinically stable' and 'has normal vital signs'.
He added that the baby is being monitored but doesn't need any respiratory assistance.

Medics delivered the baby by Caesarean section and say the mother has developed 'no complications' and is 'recovering well'. Some media reports suggest the mother contracted Zika after time spent travelling in South America, although this has not been confirmed.

Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito and can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
While the virus has been linked to hundreds of cases of Microcephaly in Latin America, this is believed to be the first in Europe.

A pregnant woman in Slovenia who had contracted Zika virus discovered that she was carrying a baby with Microcephaly, but she decided to terminate the pregnancy.

Babies born with the disease often have smaller brains and can suffer developmental delay, seizures and hearing loss, amongst other problems.

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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.