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EU Summary report on presence of TSEs published
No cases of classical BSE in cattle were reported in 2017
EFSA presents the results of surveillance on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies 

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reported on its 2017 monitoring of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in the EU member states and Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

TSEs include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), scrapie and chronic wasting disease (CWD). The diseases affect the brain and nervous system.

The research reports on findings in bovine animals, sheep, goats, cervids and other animal species. Genotyping in sheep is also included.

The main 2017 findings of the report are:
  • no cases of classical BSE in cattle were reported (out of 1,312,714 tested)
  • six cases of atypical BSE were reported
  • 933 cases of scrapie in sheep were reported (out of 314,547 tested)
  • 567 cases of scrapie in goats were reported (out of 117,268 tested)
  • no cases of CWD in cervids were reported (out of 3,585 tested) in the EU
  • 11 cases pf CWD in cervids were reported in Norway.
Full results of the report can be found here.

BSE is the only known zoonotic TSE. Although no classical cases of BSE were identified in 2017, a farm in Aberdeenshire confirmed a case of BSE in October 2018.



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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.