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APHA receives budget boost for Weybridge laboratory
APHA Weybridge advises multiple organisations including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation.

New funding to be used in redevelopment of specialist facility

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has received a £1.4 million investment boost in order to bolster its work in combating current and emerging animal and plant diseases.

The new funding was announced in the Budget on Wednesday 11 March and will be used to redevelop the current Weybridge facility, which houses specialist research and laboratory facilities and capabilities for animal health science and disease control.

The Weybridge facility also advises a number of organisations including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), as the international reference laboratory for a large range of animal diseases.

The UK currently export £4.2bn of livestock, meat and meat products, dairy and animal by-products per year. This investment will help the APHA to continue to safeguard these exports and will improve opportunities for global trade by enhancing the UK’s reputation as a safe trading partner.

Chris Hadkiss, chief executive of APHA said: “This is fantastic news for everyone at APHA and the wider Defra group as this gives the financial investment to ensure we can continue to enhance our crucial and valuable role in animal health science and in providing our emergency response to disease outbreaks.

“The financial commitment also highlights how the government recognises our international reputation as experts in animal and plant health science and the critical role we have in protecting the UK and the economy from animal disease risk.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.