Latest news with #NewZealandVeterinaryAssociation
Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Vaccine shortage stops farmer protecting his herd
A salmonella outbreak continues in the South as a vaccine shortage bites. Sharemilker Nan de Haan considered getting his herd vaccinated against the disease but a vaccine shortage forced his decision. "I can't do it if I wanted to, so my prevention measure went out the window," he said. An MSD Animal Health spokeswoman said the company was out of stock of the salmonella vaccine for sheep and cattle Salvexin +B due to an unexpected manufacturing issue. No batches of Salvexin +B released for distribution had been impacted by the issue. Several salmonella outbreaks in dairy cattle in New Zealand had significantly increased demand for the product, putting further strain on supply. "MSD Animal Health understands how critical the supply of this product is to the welfare and production of sheep and cattle and the wellbeing of the farmers that work with them. "We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, including working with regulators to determine the feasibility of importation of other salmonella vaccines to bridge the gap in supply, if necessary. "We anticipate having Salvexin +B back in stock by early June. In the meantime, we are working closely with veterinarians on salmonella mitigation practices and are communicating closely with them regarding updated supply timelines," she said. Biosecurity New Zealand surveillance principal adviser Jonathan Watts said the salmonella situation in Southland continued to be monitored. Case numbers for autumn were higher than at the same time in previous years and were continuing to be reported. A survey on risk factors associated with the salmonella outbreak in Southland was completed in late 2024 and early 2025. The survey was to help understand the risk factors that had led to this outbreak to help mitigate future outbreaks and to reduce the impact of outbreaks in the future. The response rate to the survey was less than ideal, he said. Survey data was being analysed and a preliminary report was expected later this month. New Zealand Veterinary Association head of veterinary services for large animals Dr Cristin Dwyer encouraged farmers to speak to their veterinarians to determine the best practical advice for their specific circumstances. Generalised online advice could be found through websites such as DairyNZ, MSD Animal Health and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Dr Dwyer said.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Vaccine shortage continues to bite
A Salmonella outbreak continues in the South as a vaccine shortage bites. Sharemilker Nan de Haan considered getting his herd vaccinated against the disease but a vaccine shortage forced his decision. "I can't do it if I wanted to, so my prevention measure went out the window," he said. An MSD Animal Health spokeswoman said the company was out of stock of the salmonella vaccine for sheep and cattle Salvexin +B due to an unexpected manufacturing issue. No batches of Salvexin +B released for distribution had been impacted by the issue. Several salmonella outbreaks in dairy cattle in New Zealand had significantly increased demand for the product putting further strain on supply. "MSD Animal Health understands how critical the supply of this product is to the welfare and production of sheep and cattle and the well-being of the farmers that work with them. "We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, including working with regulators to determine the feasibility of importation of other salmonella vaccines to bridge the gap in supply, if necessary. "We anticipate having Salvexin +B back in stock by early June. In the meantime, we are working closely with veterinarians on salmonella mitigation practices and are communicating closely with them regarding updated supply timelines," she said. Biosecurity New Zealand surveillance principal adviser Jonathan Watts said the salmonella situation in Southland continued to be monitored. Case numbers for autumn were higher than at the same time in previous years and were continuing to be reported. A survey on risk factors associated with the salmonella outbreak in Southland was completed in late 2024 and early 2025. The survey was to help understand the risk factors that had led to this outbreak to help mitigate future outbreaks and to reduce the impact of outbreaks in the future. The response rate to the survey was less than ideal, he said. Survey data was being analysed and a preliminary report was expected later this month. New Zealand Veterinary Association head of veterinary services for large animals Dr Cristin Dwyer encouraged farmers to speak to their veterinarians to determine the best practical advice for their specific circumstances. Generalised online advice could be found through websites such as DairyNZ, MSD Animal Health and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Dr Dwyer said.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Vaccine shortage continues to bite in the South
A Salmonella outbreak continues in the South as a vaccine shortage bites. Sharemilker Nan de Haan considered getting his herd vaccinated against the disease but a vaccine shortage forced his decision. "I can't do it if I wanted to, so my prevention measure went out the window," he said. An MSD Animal Health spokeswoman said the company was out of stock of the salmonella vaccine for sheep and cattle Salvexin +B due to an unexpected manufacturing issue. No batches of Salvexin +B released for distribution had been impacted by the issue. Several salmonella outbreaks in dairy cattle in New Zealand had significantly increased demand for the product putting further strain on supply. "MSD Animal Health understands how critical the supply of this product is to the welfare and production of sheep and cattle and the well-being of the farmers that work with them. "We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, including working with regulators to determine the feasibility of importation of other salmonella vaccines to bridge the gap in supply, if necessary. "We anticipate having Salvexin +B back in stock by early June. In the meantime, we are working closely with veterinarians on salmonella mitigation practices and are communicating closely with them regarding updated supply timelines," she said. Biosecurity New Zealand surveillance principal adviser Jonathan Watts said the salmonella situation in Southland continued to be monitored. Case numbers for autumn were higher than at the same time in previous years and were continuing to be reported. A survey on risk factors associated with the salmonella outbreak in Southland was completed in late 2024 and early 2025. The survey was to help understand the risk factors that had led to this outbreak to help mitigate future outbreaks and to reduce the impact of outbreaks in the future. The response rate to the survey was less than ideal, he said. Survey data was being analysed and a preliminary report was expected later this month. New Zealand Veterinary Association head of veterinary services for large animals Dr Cristin Dwyer encouraged farmers to speak to their veterinarians to determine the best practical advice for their specific circumstances. Generalised online advice could be found through websites such as DairyNZ, MSD Animal Health and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Dr Dwyer said.
NZ Herald
28-04-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
World Veterinary Day honours New Zealand's dedicated vet teams
They are also there at the toughest times, when people have to say goodbye to a beloved pet or when farmers are dealing with disease outbreaks. And it's always a team effort. 'Animal health takes a team' was the theme of this year's World Veterinary Day. It is important to shine a spotlight on the dynamic nature of veterinary services, which require co-operation and collaboration across various fields of expertise to address the diverse challenges in animal health and care. Veterinarians, vet nurses, vet technicians, clinic and hospital managers, among many others, are critical elements of animal health services, and in New Zealand, government and industry vets also have a vital role in animal welfare. In clinics and on farms, the whole team deals with big responsibilities and long hours to meet the needs of patients and their owners. As a result of this pressure, burnout is not uncommon. There are shortages of new graduates and experienced vets and other staff, particularly in rural areas. The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) has been working to support vets since 1923, and we also work closely with the representatives of vet nurses and other professionals. We provide resources and support for the mental and physical wellbeing of our members. We offer professional development and continuing education and career support from entry level to retirement and work to maintain high ethical standards. The NZVA has a focus on improving retention and recruitment, mentoring and coaching. While different vet team members have different roles, they all turn up every day because they are committed to animal health. And healthy animals mean healthier communities. This is expressed in the concept of One Health, acknowledging that animal health, human health and the health of the environment are inextricably linked. In the early 2000s, the One Health concept was envisaged and implemented by the World Organisation for Animal Health, in partnership with the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN. The aim was to create a collaborative global approach to understanding and mitigating the combined risks to human health, animal health and ecosystem health. A classic example of the critical importance of this is the origins of the SARS-Cov-2 global pandemic. An animal disease became a spill-over zoonotic event due to an environment that put infected animals and susceptible humans in close contact. Veterinary professionals' position in communities provides them a unique opportunity to become key One Health influencers. They have particular knowledge regarding animal health, animal welfare, zoonoses, biosecurity, food security and food safety and the ability to use that for the betterment of animal, human and environmental health. Your vet and team therefore have a role to play in your wellbeing, as well as that of your pets or livestock, and in the economy of our country.
