The Bella Moss Foundation is raising money from corporate sponsorship for a conference in June. This is the first international conference on MRSA in animals and The Bella Moss Foundation is co-hosting and organising the event.

The aim of the Conference is to bring together researchers from veterinary and human research on MRSA, as well as clinicians, to disseminate and further our knowledge on the epidemiology and infection of MRSA in animals.

Jill Moss says "Since losing Bella to MRSA hundreds of people have contacted me and it seems the veterinary profession admit that they really need to take this seriously. So the foundation is co-hosting the first international conference on MRSA in animals at the University of Liverpool 19-21st June. This event will be the very first time vets can attend an educational conference to improve their knowledge. I shall open the day by talking about how this all started from the loss of my beloved companion."

Background to The Bella Moss Foundation
Set up in April 2005 the charity is run by Jill Moss who gave up her acting career to campaign fulltime to fight for animals affected by MRSA. She now receives over 100 calls a month from anxious pet owners and vets who need more information and support when their animals become infected after surgery.

The Campaign
Jill is calling for new standards to be set for vets including:
- Vets to be more diligent about cleanliness
- Vets to have infection control policies
- Vet staff to wash hands between attending animals (or wear gloves)
- Infected animals to be isolated
- Swabs to be taken early as most cases can be successfully treated
- All vets to wear gloves gowns and masks during surgical procedures
- The government to bring in enforceable standards of infection control
- Guidelines for all veterinary practices
- The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to have an independent ombudsmen to oversee complaints of veterinary negligence

Click here to download the A4 conference flyer.

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Review of the 1st International Conference on MRSA in animals

The 1st International Conference on MRSA in Animals concluded its two-day event at Liverpool University on June 21st, and the organisers, The Bella Moss Foundation and University of Liverpool both declared that the event had been a great success.

Some of the world’s leading veterinary researchers and clinicians spoke at the event which was attended by over 100 delegates including representatives of Defra, which had been a major sponsor of the event. Speakers and delegates came from North America, Denmark, Germany and Ireland as well as the United Kingdom, and the subjects being presented ranged from the precautions that vet practices can take to minimise the risk of MRSA to the genetic and molecular make of MRSA strains.

Jill Moss, President and Founder of The Bella Moss Foundation, said “This was an extremely important event for the veterinary world. All aspects of veterinary concern about MRSA were addressed and the information that was presented will have a major impact on veterinary care over the next few years."

“Two very positive things came out of this meeting. The first was that we were able to bring together human health experts as well as those in the veterinary field, and we strongly believe that both need to work together to achieve success. The second was that very positive evidence was presented showing that animals have the ability to overcome MRSA colonisation quickly and without antibiotics if they are healthy. We were also pleased to hear of new techniques in analysing MRSA that will improve our ability to deal with it.”

The opening presentation was given by Professor David Lloyd of the Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, who thanked The Bella Moss Foundation for its part in making the conference possibly, and gave an overview of the situation affecting small animals including the way MRSA has emerged around the world. He was followed by Dr Scott Weese, from Ontario’s Veterinary College, whose work demonstrated that horses can rid themselves of MRSA colonisation without the need for antimicrobial treatments if the conditions are right. This was of particular interest to delegates who wanted to know more about the way animals deal with MRSA.

Professor Tony Hart of Liverpool University and Joint Head of the new National Zoonoses Centre gave an account of the situation concerning MRSA in human health care, and drew parallels with the current situation in veterinary practices, and Professor Peter Hawkey of the Health Protection Agency presented on improvements in analysing MRSA in the laboratory.

The event also heard that new strains of MRSA are appearing and that older strains are continuing to show the ability to develop new defences to antibiotics. Evidence was also given that MRSA rates are increasing even in countries where they have historically been low.

At the end of the conference, Paul Gayford, representing Defra, chaired a round-table discussion of the subjects presented during the event. From this came plans to set up a working party to take forward some of the issues that had been raised.

“MRSA in animals is no longer seen as something we can treat lightly or ignore” said Jill Moss. “It is a serious problem that we have to get to grips with, and this event showed that, around the world, researchers and clinicians are working hard to find the answers that we need. This event has been a fitting tribute to Bella’s memory.”

Jill also said that although the information presented at the conference was important and encouraging, it will take time to reach practicing vets. “We want to create a direct link between research and practitioners” she said, “and so our aim is to develop a series of events that are accessible to vets and pet owners because it is only by bringing all sides together that we will make a real difference to the health and welfare of our companion pets.”

Major support for the conference came from Defra, Petplan, Bayer Healthcare, Medichem and Vetoquinol.

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Memorial Day Seminars to Remember Bella

The Bella Moss Foundation is to hold the first Bella Moss Memorial Day Seminars for pet owners on August 27th 2006 at the Dogs Trust West London re-homing.

For more information please visit our D for Dog online Calendar and click on the event taking place on 27th August.

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Visit the charity and campaign websites:
www.thebellamossfoundation.com
www.pets-mrsa.com

Other articles on pet MRSA:
MRSA in Pets
Calling all Cases - Pet MRSA Update