Free online course in One Health – University of Basel

An exciting free online course on One Health is currently on offer by the University of Basel. This course starts on the 7th of November and will hopefully serve as a great jumping on point for many practitioners.

One Health is the interface between human, veterinary and environmental health. Examples of where One Health collaborations work well include rabies eradication programs and Ebola virus investigations.

As someone who likes to play in the One Health arena, I have found the hardest part is initiating multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Find a kitten with ringworm? Get in contact with the client’s GP and give them the heads up.

I acknowledge that we are all rather time poor due to the many roles we play, yet there are opportunities in this area to create collaborations at the grassroots level – an area that is sorely in need of development and encouragement for One Health.

So I encourage you all to sign up for this course and help push One Health in whatever role you play as a veterinarian.

 

Source: One Health – University of Basel

GCEID’s pre-congress workshop “A One Health Approach to Infectious Diseases” – Registration now open | GCEID

If anyone is heading to the One Health/EcoHealth Congress later this year in Melbourne, Victoria, this pre-congress workshop looks like it will be quite interesting and worthwhile.

The workshop (Tuesday 29 Nov – Thursday 1 Dec 2016) will be held prior to the “One Health EcoHealth Congress 2016” (www.oheh2016.org) scheduled for 3-7 December 2016. Overview: The interwoven…

Source: GCEID’s pre-congress workshop “A One Health Approach to Infectious Diseases” – Registration now open | GCEID

Stanford One Health – Comparative Medicine – Stanford University School of Medicine

Anyone in or around Stanford on the 30th of April?

Session topics

Influenza: Aging, immunity and vaccine development
Antibiotic Resistance: Sources and strategies for prevention
Epilepsy and Seizure Prediction: Canine models for improved seizure treatments
The Bat-Human Interface

At the end of each session, speakers and conference attendees will participate in a discussion panel to explore the research and foster new connections.

Source: Stanford One Health – Comparative Medicine – Stanford University School of Medicine

Vets urge Northern Ireland Assembly candidates to take ‘One Health’ action – Farming Life

With campaigning for next month’s election (5 May) in full swing, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and BVA Northern Ireland Branch have launched a manifesto urging incoming parliamentarians to take action on animal health and welfare as part of a One Health government agenda.BVA’s ‘The veterinary profession’s manifesto for Northern Ireland 2016–2021’ was developed drawing on the expertise and experiences of BVA’s members working throughout Northern Ireland and in all areas of the veterinary profession, and makes clear recommendations in three key areas: safeguarding animal health, promoting animal welfare and recognising the vital role of veterinary surgeons.

“Delivering positive change for animal health and welfare requires partnership working – and the announcement last year that Northern Ireland had been granted Officially Brucellosis Free status is testament to the effectiveness of that joined up working between government, farmers and vets to eradicate the disease. And we must continue to work together to tackle other endemic diseases, and health and welfare issues like the breeding and sale of dogs.” Seamus O’Kane, President, BVA Northern Ireland Branch

The Northern Ireland manifesto sets out almost 20 policy recommendations that provide a clear pathway towards improving animal health and welfare, and challenges the next government to:

* Support vets and farmers in combating endemic livestock diseases, for example through the compulsory bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) testing scheme in Northern Ireland and the voluntary all-island control programme to tackle Johne’s disease.

* Protect the welfare of animals by requiring all animals to be stunned before slaughter to ensure they are insensible to pain: there is no non-stun slaughter currently carried out in Northern Ireland but, while non-stun is permitted under the EU derogation, the next government should introduce measures to label meat as stunned or non-stunned to allow consumers to make an informed choice.

* Review the outcomes of the Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) project; moving towards a comprehensive programme to eradicate bovine TB that includes a regime of controls such as risk-based biosecurity measures, cattle controls, badger vaccination where appropriate and available, and the humane culling of badgers via cage trapping and shooting only.

* Increase collaboration and integration of the veterinary and medical professions to promote the responsible use of antimicrobials.

* Ensure robust enforcement of existing legislation to tackle illegal import of puppies across borders due to the associations with disease, dog welfare and behavioural problems.

* Ban the keeping of primates as pets and the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, as their welfare needs cannot be met.

* Embrace partnership working between government and the veterinary profession, recognising the unique skills, knowledge and expertise of veterinary surgeons across animal health and welfare and public health.

BVA Northern Ireland Branch President Seamus O’Kane said: “Delivering positive change for animal health and welfare requires partnership working – and the announcement last year that Northern Ireland had been granted Officially Brucellosis Free status is testament to the effectiveness of that joined up working between government, farmers and vets to eradicate the disease. And we must continue to work together to tackle other endemic diseases, and health and welfare issues like the breeding and sale of dogs.

As vets, we carry out our roles for the public good and, as such, we are in a unique position from which to offer evidence-based and informed advice and policy recommendations. We are on the frontline caring for animals, detecting and treating disease, and undertaking pioneering research into animal and public health – and we look forward to working with the next government in Northern Ireland.”

BVA President Sean Wensley said: “Through our daily work, and these manifestos, we believe vets are in a unique position from which to offer the next government in Northern Ireland evidence-based advice and recommendations for animal health and welfare policy. The forthcoming elections affect us all and, as a nation that prides itself on high and continuously improving animal welfare standards, we urge the incoming government to put animal health and welfare on their agenda and champion the concept of One Health in recognition of the inextricable links between animals, humans and our shared living environment.” 

BVA’s manifesto will be sent to all candidates who are standing for election, relevant animal health and welfare government groups, BVA honorary associate MPs, Peers & MEPs, and Chief Veterinary Officer Robert Huey. Following the election, BVA will also share the document with newly elected Members.

For more information about BVA’s ‘The veterinary profession’s manifesto for Northern Ireland 2016–2021’, please visit http://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Campaigns/Northern-Ireland-Assembly/.

Farming News
Read more: http://www.farminglife.com/news/farming-news/vets-urge-northern-ireland-assembly-candidates-to-take-one-health-action-1-7311699#ixzz452vxV0ub

Source: Vets urge Northern Ireland Assembly candidates to take ‘One Health’ action – Farming Life