West Nile virus is making headlines again across Europe. But this year’s activity is not unprecedented, and 2026 is not a record season. So what’s driving the current situation, how does it compare with previous years, and who is most at risk? 👇 #MosquitoBorne #IDsky #EpiSky

Heading to the Royal Highland Show taking place in the Scottish Government Marquee? So are we! We'll be there on the 18th-19th June, so come and say hello to the EPIC team and have a chat. You can also catch our session on Bluetongue Virus on Thursday 18th June from 14.30 - 15.30 pm.

Yesterday, EPIC hosted an Impact Workshop at the University of Edinburgh, led by Jamie Gallagher @jamiebgall.co.uk. In a refreshing way, the interactive session explored how researchers can plan for and evidence meaningful research impact through practical examples and impact narratives.

We were delighted to host a recent visit from Vikki Halliday, Deputy Director of RESAS (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services of the Scottish Government) www.bioss.ac.uk/news-events/...

Visit from Vikki Halliday, Deputy Director of RESAS

Vikki Halliday, Deputy Director of RESAS (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services of the Scottish Government) visited BioSS on Tuesday 5th May 2026.

bioss.ac.uk

🐑 What if livestock disease knowledge could be shared through a card game? Read this new blog on creative #ScienceCommunication in action ➡️ tinyurl.com/LivestockDis... @moredunfoundation.bsky.social

✈️ Travelling during the holidays? Don’t risk bringing back plant and animal products that may be contaminated. 🦠 Watch our animation to understand how contaminated products could cause disease spread in Great Britain. ➡️ youtu.be/D1lzg1x7gH4

Don't Risk It animation (short version)

YouTube video by EPIC Scotland

youtu.be

You can read more about the @epicscotland.bsky.social work by @spcatterall.bsky.social study www.bioss.ac.uk/case-studies...

Predicting disease spread when the host distribution is uncertain

BioSS colleagues have developed methods that allow analysis of outbreak data even when the host distribution is unknown.

bioss.ac.uk

On 3 October, EPIC attended the third annual ENRA Conference. EPIC research that delivers impact across Scotland was showcased at our exhibitor stand, and through a presentation and poster. Access conference coverage and materials on our news page ➡️ www.epicscotland.org/news/epic-at...

📸 Camera traps are helping to identify the potentially significant role wildlife could have in transmitting diseases, including African swine fever, to livestock. 🐖 Access the news story ➡️ www.epicscotland.org/news/concern...

🚨 UK egg producers 🚨 Complete our survey by 31 October to tell EPIC and SRUC @ravicinverness.bsky.social scientists what data you collect and how it is kept. 🐓 Access the survey ➡️ www.epicscotland.org/news/uk-egg-...

A phylogenetic model of African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) genotype II identifies introductions of the virus worldwide. 🌍 Scientists from EPIC and @roslininstitute.bsky.social, highlight a need to expand genomic surveillance of ASFV. Access the publication ➡️ doi.org/10.1101/2025...

A phylogenetic contribution to understanding the panzootic spread of African swine fever: from the global to the local scale

African Swine Fever virus has become a primary concern for veterinarian health agencies and pig producers worldwide. The current panzootic of the virus genotype II is having a devastating impact on pi...

doi.org

Planning to travel outside the UK? ✈️ Don’t risk bringing back restricted animal and plant products, such as pork or seeds, as they could host harmful pathogens. EPIC and @planthealthscot.bsky.social produced an animation showing the risks: youtu.be/92y4gdX5-Ms

Don't Risk It: Don't Bring Animal and Plant Products into Great Britain

YouTube video by EPIC Scotland

youtu.be

EPIC’s Lucy Gilbert led a workshop which revealed the challenges the Scottish #livestock industry is facing due to the rise of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

SEFARI Gateway@sefariscot.bsky.social · last yr.

How can we tackle the growing threat of ticks & tick-borne diseases? 🕷️ A SEFARI-funded workshop brought together farmers, vets, policymakers & public health experts to share solutions from surveillance & vaccines to better communication. Read the workshop report here ➡️ tinyurl.com/TickWorkshop

📢 The draft version of the 2027-32 ENRA Research Strategy is now available for public consultation. The programme covers a broad range of issues critical to Scotland's environmental and agricultural futures. Give your views to inform the strategy’s development ➡️ consult.gov.scot/environment-...

Using supporting EPIC resources, @dundee.ac.uk MSc Medical Art Masters student Mary Jo Eden, makes information on avian influenza more accessible for poultry keepers and communities. Access her bird flu guide and 3D model ➡️ bird-flu-guide.weebly.com

Bird Flu Guide

A virtual bird flu guide for chicken keepers and their communities

bird-flu-guide.weebly.com

Last week, EPIC scientists facilitated a workshop to explore data ethics and evaluate potential applications of artificial intelligence in animal disease modelling. Professor Sam Lycett from @roslininstitute.bsky.social is developing a report based on the workshop’s findings.

🐄 Livestock keepers in or near bluetongue control zones are concerned about the direct impact of the disease, the indirect impacts on farm businesses and the mental health of farmers. Access the recent EPIC report ➡️ www.epicscotland.org/resources/re...

🚨 UK egg producers 🚨 Complete our survey by 31 July to tell EPIC and SRUC @ravicinverness.bsky.social scientists what data you collect and how it is kept. 🐓

EPIC Scotland@epicscotland.bsky.social · last yr.

Calling all UK egg producers! Complete a survey to help EPIC and @srucnews.bsky.social @ravicinverness.bsky.social scientists assess if there is enough data available to design prediction models that alert egg producers to flock problems. 🐓 Access the survey ➡️ www.epicscotland.org/news/uk-egg-...

As bluetongue restriction zones change, use the ‘Bluetongue Movements Checker’ for correct advice and requirements to move animals within or across a border in Great Britain. Access the interactive tool ➡️ ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-v...

Bluetongue Movements Checker - Ruminant Health & Welfare

Cattle & Sheep Health & Welfare Survey 2020

ruminanthw.org.uk

Calling all UK egg producers! Complete a survey to help EPIC and @srucnews.bsky.social @ravicinverness.bsky.social scientists assess if there is enough data available to design prediction models that alert egg producers to flock problems. 🐓 Access the survey ➡️ www.epicscotland.org/news/uk-egg-...

Today, EPIC and @planthealthscot.bsky.social launched an animation explaining the risks of bringing animal and plant products into Great Britain. Watch the animation here ➡️ edin.ac/4kMtsqy

Our Iain McKendrick is at the Royal Highland Show 2025 to launch a new public information film. It warns about the risks from bringing animal and plant products into Scotland. 🧀🥩✈️ 🎦Watch here: www.epicscotland.org/resources/an... @epicscotland.bsky.social @planthealthscot.bsky.social @hutton.ac.uk

'Think before you pack and don't bring it back' 🧳⛱️ Come along to our event at the Royal Highland Show with @epicscotland.bsky.social on 20th June at 1pm We will be showcasing our new animation 📽️ Talks from scientists @epicscotland.bsky.social @srucnews.bsky.social and @hutton.ac.uk

We’re here at the Royal Highland Show today and tomorrow. 🐄 🐖🐓 Stop by our stall in the Scottish Government marquee to learn about our new #animation, and try identifying #animals in our camera trap photos for a sweet reward!

Midge traps placed on farms allow EPIC researchers to study active times and diversity of #midge populations across #Scotland. Watch BBC’s Landward starting at 03:15 to learn how this project helps determine risk periods for #Bluetongue virus ➡️ www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Scotland - Landward, 2025, Episode 9

Dougie reports on the bluetongue virus and meets the Scottish scientists studying it.

bbc.co.uk

Historic Bluetongue (BTV-3) cases in cattle have limited the movement of livestock in England. Early EPIC modelling work reported that higher temperatures lead to larger outbreaks of BTV-3 but impacts to Scotland are minimal ➡️ edin.ac/3ZnmVtC

Dr David Ewing recently spoke about the Mosquito #Scotland project, which will help scientists monitor future changes in #mosquito populations and assess mosquito-borne #disease risk. Listen to David’s interview on BBC Sounds - from 30:52 ➡️ www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Afternoons - With Gemma Cairney - Robin Ince and ADHD - BBC Sounds

Gemma Cairney brings you feel-good music and chat with celebrity guests.

bbc.co.uk

Watch EPIC’s cross-border #livestock movement analyses work receive a mention at the Scottish industry #Bluetongue virus webinar. Neil Wilson, Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in #Scotland, discusses potential #trade impacts of #BTV movement restrictions ➡️ youtu.be/48aCElM09W8?...

Bluetongue Virus - Scottish industry webinar - 15 April 2025 - Meeting Recording

YouTube video by ScotGov Rural

youtu.be

Hello! Great to meet you 👋 I'm new to Bluesky, but very happy to be here 💙 I'm based at @bioss.bsky.social, working as part of the @epicscotland.bsky.social consortium on Bayesian Inference approaches for stochastic epidemic modelling.

Check out this talk from our Dr Stephen Catterall at the recent @epicscotland.bsky.social Conference. 🦠🐖📊 #AnimalDisease #DataScience #Statistics

EPIC Scotland@epicscotland.bsky.social · last yr.

While modelling the spatial spread of #AnimalDisease with limited #data, the iPAR approach can help fill a gap to ensure we are prepared for future #disease outbreaks. Watch Dr Stephen Catterall from @bioss.bsky.social, speak at EPIC Conference 2025 ➡️ youtu.be/6-FpBdWi80Q?...