EPIC Blog

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Information on Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Scotland

Naturally Speaking Podcast (IBAHCM): Climate Change Research at IBAHCM

In this podcast, Naturally Speaking’s Taya Forde and Joey Humble are joined by a panel of IBAHCM researchers to hear about the varied studies going on within the Institute in this area.

SEFARI Blog Nematodirus battus: Is it likely to spiral out of control?

Using data to fight disease

EPIC researchers use data every day to analyse various aspects of disease, from the likelihood of incursion and possible patterns of spread, to potential success of control measures. Here we outline some of the ways we use data to make our research more accurate, but also to help us build a bigger picture of disease outbreaks.

Meet the team - Lucy Gilbert

Lucy Gilbert: I am one of EPIC’s “old-timers”, having been involved in EPIC since its first inception around 14 years ago. Since then, EPIC has become more focused on becoming an invaluable part of Scotland’s response unit in case of animal disease outbreaks, and EPIC’s policy relevance, knowledge exchange and outreach has become exemplary.

SEFARI Blog: A Test is Best: A New Sheep Scab Blood Test Helps Control Disease on the Isle of Mull & Iona

The final push to eradicate BVD in Scotland

The BVD Eradication Programme in Scotland enters its final phase on the 1st of December 2019, but it has long been known that the fifth and final phase of the programme will be the most complex, as we work to remove the last of the infected cattle from the Scottish herd.

Can abattoirs assist with disease surveillance?

Amy Jennings: Although abattoirs only receive animals fit for human consumption and therefore healthy well-grown animals, they none-the-less have potential for offering information into the surveillance network.

Deer Farm Visit

Lucy Gilbert: In July 2019 members of EPIC and Scottish Government were lucky enough to attend a deer event organised by SAC Consulting – “Deer Health, Disease and Surveillance: Working together for the future”.

The One Health Jigsaw

Dominic Mellor: Important international and national organisations make declarations about One Health and write strategies that depend on this approach... yet we keep having to explain what this means.

Cowtastrophy Tested in the Field

Stephen Catterall: We were delighted to be able to present Cowtastrophy as part of EPIC activities at the Royal Highland Show in June.

The threat of African swine fever to the UK

Mayumi Fujiwara: African swine fever (ASF) is considered to be one of the most devastating diseases in pigs and wild boar. ASF is a notifiable disease, and its presence causes disruption to domestic and international trade, with large scale culling campaigns put in place to control it as quickly as possible.

Naturally Speaking Podcast (IBAHCM): An EPIC Undertaking

In this episode, Naturally Speaking’s Lucy Gilbert, also a member of EPIC, speaks with Prof Dominic Mellor and Dr Theo Pepler about the important work being done by this group towards emergency preparedness for livestock disease outbreaks in Scotland.

APHA modelling symposium 2019: Global thinking for disease modelling

EPIC Scientist Theo Pepler shares his take on the ninth iteration of the APHA modelling symposium. This years symposium theme was the application of global thinking in the modelling of pathogen risk and cross-border disease spread.

Strategic Planning in Uncertain Times: The Benefits of the Brexit Lens? (911KB, pdf)

Lisa Boden, EPIC’s Deputy Director explores the intersection between Brexit, Scenario Planning and strategy development.

EPIC/APHA meeting on Livestock Data and Demographics

EPIC Scientist Theo Pepler shares his take on the annual meeting of EPIC - Scotland's Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The focus of this year’s EPIC APHA meeting was to exchange knowledge about how data on livestock are used for inference about livestock populations and demographics.

Behind the scenes at SRUC Elmwood’s Game Bird Hatchery

May Fujiwara & Ian Hutchinson: EPIC scientists visited SRUC Elmwood’s game bird hatchery facilities and a local release site. The purpose of the visit was to help inform a veterinary risk assessment around the risk Avian Influenza poses to the game bird industry.

One Health - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Dominic Mellor: Much of my work over the last few years has been to try to coordinate efforts by animal keepers to minimise the impact of infectious agents that become resistant to drugs that should kill these agents.