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Bluetongue, FMD And Disaster Management: BVA Congress 27-29 September 2007, Belfast

Author: BVA
Posted: Wednesday 26th September, 2007. 00:00:00

BVA Congress always aims to be topical and this year’s meeting is no exception. With the current cases of Bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the sessions on ‘Containing national disease outbreaks: latest issues’ and ‘Managing biosecurity risks and the tools currently available’ are particularly pertinent.

This year’s BVA Congress, taking place at the Europa Hotel, Belfast and commencing with a Welcome Reception at Stormont tomorrow (Thursday) evening, is the largest BVA Congress is some years, both in terms of delegates and breadth of content. By pulling together the expertise that exists within the differing branches of the profession the Congress programme, consisting of four lecture streams over two days will provide delegates with the opportunity to pick and choose sessions to match their particular interests and needs.

For delegates of a more political persuasion there are the BVA’s ‘Contentious Issues’ sessions, including a debate on Bovine TB while for those with an interest in working overseas there are sessions examining the role vets can play in helping communities in the developing world, as well as the profession’s role in disaster management. For those involved with practice management there are sessions offering advice on consultation skills, complying with health and safety requirements or meeting the demands of modern consumers, while for those seeking CPD the choice is immense with presentations on farm animal diseases such as Johne’s and scrapie, small animal issues such as approaches to the cancer case and management of osteoarthritis, equine issues such as emergencies during foaling and public health matters such as the changing approach to food hygiene.

This year represents the launch of a ‘new-look’ BVA Congress, an event for the whole of the profession, and, for the first time in many years, the Congress will be held in the city of Belfast. With strong support for the event from our territorial division, the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) who are currently celebrating their centenary as well as Veterinary Northern Ireland, an Irish flavour will be evident throughout Congress. From the Wooldridge Memorial Lecture by Irish MEP Avril Doyle, CPD sessions hosted by the Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI) and British Small Animal Veterinary Association Northern Ireland (BSAVA NI) to Riverdance and Blackthorn at the Party Night and The Commitments at the Congress banquet.

The BVA Congress partners running CPD sessions are AVSPNI, British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), BSAVA NI, NIVA, Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS), Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) while further contributors to the programme include the Association of Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (AVTRW), Fish Veterinary Society (FVS), Goat Veterinary Society (GVS), Veterinary Benevolent Fund (VBF) and Veterinary NI.

BVA Congress will also feature a comprehensive trade exhibition and a fun and varied social programme. In addition to the welcome reception at Stormont, there will be an Irish evening at Belfast Castle, the Congress banquet, a partner programme and a golf tournament.

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