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During Avian Influenza outbreaks in England, the 'AI Order' states that a poultry keeper may be required to keep domestic birds separate from wild birds. This study aimed to assess a) how effectively this was done and b) the negative impact this had for bird owners and animal welfare during the November 2007 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in Suffolk, UK. A voluntary questionnaire was posted to holdings ( n = 296) that were within 10 km of an infected premises; these holdings were required to separate domestic and wild birds where possible. Holdings were identified during outbreak investigations conducted by the authorities. Holdings of all sizes were included. A sample of holdings received a follow-up visit or telephone call to validate the questionnaire ( n = 29). From the 38% of eligible holdings that responded, 13% (95% CI 7-22%) left their birds outdoors throughout the outbreak. If game birds were excluded, 9% (CI 4-17%) of holdings did not house their birds. Major cost and welfare problems were rare; however, there were exceptions. Enforced housing was often relaxed before a minor welfare problem deteriorated. Contact between wild and domestic birds was greatly reduced during the outbreak, resulting in a reduced probability of HPAI transmission via wild birds for most, but not all, holdings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nanocrystalline SnOx particles (x = 0-2) were synthesized using tetrumethyltin (Sn(CH3)4) vapor as the particle precursor reactant in hydrogen/oxygen/argon (H2/O2/Ar) flames. The particle composition and morphology were characterized using X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen (N2) surface adsorption. By controlling the concentration of oxygen in the reactant gases and the flame temperatures, metallic tin (Sn), tin monoxide (romarchite SnO), and/or tin dioxide (cassiterite SnO2) were generated. The crystalline powders consisted of both discrete primary particles and agglomerates, with average primary particle sizes of 25-24 nm for SnO2 and 69 nm for Sn (based on specific surface area measurements of hulk powders collected in the exhaust region of the flame). The compositional results were interpreted using equilibrium and detailed chemical kinetics models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of dispersing foot-and-mouth disease virus into the atmosphere, and spreading it to susceptible holdings as a result of burning large numbers of carcases together on open pyres, has been estimated for six selected pyres burned during the 2001 outbreak in the UK. The probability of an animal or holding becoming infected was dependent on the estimated level of exposure to the virus predicted from the concentrations of virus calculated by the Met Office, Bracknell. In general, the probability of infection per animal and per holding decreased as their distance from the pyre increased. In the case of two of the pyres, a holding under the pyre plumes became infected on a date consistent with when the pyre was lit. However, by calculating their estimated probability of infection from the pyres it was concluded that it was unlikely that in either case the pyre was the source of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opinions of a number of recognised world experts on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were sought in order to answer key questions relating to the importation of the disease into European countries from countries outside Europe. In addition, their opinions were sought on where in Europe a primary outbreak of FMD was most likely to occur and the number of outbreaks likely to occur within European countries in the next five years. The Balkans group of countries was considered to be the most likely group within Europe to have a primary outbreak of FMD and also most likely to have the highest number of primary outbreaks. Turkey was considered to be the country outside Europe which was most likely to be the source of an outbreak within Europe as a whole, and the illegal importation of livestock was considered to be the most likely route of introduction of FMD into Europe. Results specific to the Islands group of countries, which included the UK and Ireland, suggested that this group was likely to have a mean of one primary outbreak of FMD in the five years from September 2000, and that the importation of foodstuffs by people entering those countries from Turkey was the most likely source of an outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

On May 30, 1996, a sick Daubenton's bat () was recovered from the cellar of a public house in Newhaven, East Sussex. Its condition deteriorated rapidly, and it was euthanased and examined. Positive results, establishing the presence of a rabies or rabies-related virus in its brain, were obtained from the fluorescent antibody test, the rabies tissue culture isolation test, and a hemi-nested reversetranscription PCR. The complete sequence of the nucleoprotein gene was determined and a phylogenetic analysis, based on the 470 nucleotide bases of the amino terminus of the nucleoprotein, established the genotype of the virus as European bat lyssavirus 2. Bat rabies had not previously been recorded in the UK but does occur in mainland Europe. A study of the back-trajectories of the wind on May 29 and 30, established that the infected bat possibly came from near the Franco-Swiss border. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the development of a qualitative risk assessment framework to identify the impact of climate change on livestock disease in Great Britain. According to the authors, the framework sets out the potential routes of entry of pathogens to the country and the molecular biology of the pathogens themselves. The authors add that the climate change will affect endemic diseases of livestock primarily through the effects of increased flooding.

The article reports on the implications of the risk assessment initiated by the British government in response to the growing threat of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot-and-mouth disease. Risk assessment is recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health as a transparent and scientific method for determining the risk of undesirable events. Thus, it has been utilized by the British government to control the risk of rabies coming to the country from North America.

Reports on the qualitative risk assessment of the hazards and risk from wild game meat in Great Britain. Public health risks associated in utilizing meat from wild animals like gamebirds, ducks, deer and lagomorphs; Identification of health hazards based on literature searches and expert opinion.