♦ 30 July 2017 ♦ The results sent by the laboratories for each tested techniques are currently under analysis and the report will be release as usual at the end of the summer. A total of 48 laboratories participated this year to the test: 48 performed FAT, 30 RTCIT and 31 the conventional RT-PCR technique. As explained and discussed during 9th workshop for rabies, this year, for technical reasons, the Real Time RT-PCR technique will not be evaluated. From next year, the format of the inter laboratory test for rabies diagnosis will change in order to better follow the laboratories real work and needs.  

♦ 26 July 2017 ♦ The annual online activity questionnaire was submitted to all National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) early 2017 to collect and collate data on methods used and results of tests carried out in the Community in the frame of rabies control programmes (Commission regulations (EU) N° 737/2008 and N°415/2013). The report is available in the EURL for rabies website for private members only.  

♦ 14-15 June 2017 ♦ The meeting of the LRUE serology rabies followed directly the 9th workshop for rabies on 14 and 15 June and lasted one day and a half. This meeting is mainly dedicated to approved laboratories for the serology of pets as part of movements to and from the European Union. A total of 87 participants from all continents attended this meeting, as well as the international organizations already present during 9th workshop for rabies, the DGAL (French General Directorate for Food), the ANSES Quality Services Delegation and an ANSES-Fougères delegate. The agenda was divided into six sessions: Rabies serology proficiency test, ISO standards and statistics, EU serology regulation, Rabies serology for pets, Developments and methods in rabies serology, Rabies Serology for wildlife and Rabies serology and vaccines. All the conditions for success were gathered for both meetings: hotel and location, working environment, exceptional weather… Presentations can be found on the EURL website (private members only).  

♦ 30 July 2017 ♦ The annual rabies serology proficiency test is still ongoing. The last signed results must be sent before 31st July to Anses-Nancy. A total of 78 laboratories from all continents participated: 46 from Europe, 12 from América, 12 from Asia, 7 from Africa and 1 from Oceania. The report will be released before 31st October, as requested by the European Commission, in the new electronical format, as described in the Proficiency test for rabies serology Information sheet and the guideline.  

♦ 30 May 2017 ♦ [Relayed from www.anses.fr] “The ANSES newsletter contains all the Agency's latest information updates, upcoming events and recent publications, so that readers can stay up-to-date on all the current news. Subscription is free of charge and may be cancelled at any time. Subscribers will receive the newsletter by e-mail.” Follow this link to suscribe to the newsletter in English. To consult the latest issue of the Anses’newsletter, click here.  

♦ 09 June 2017 ♦ The Global alliance for rabies control is launching the 11th World Rabies day and call once again for your events. This year theme is 'Rabies: Zero by 30', to confirm their pledge to eliminate human deaths from canine rabies by 2030. Do not hesitate to register your event on the dedicated website page and to promote World Rabies day among your contacts. The Global alliance for rabies control also call to help them to recognise the individuals and organisations who work tirelessly to prevent rabies in your community and ask you to nominate them for a World Rabies Day Award.  

On October 18th., the EU RL for Honeybee Health organised the third training on honeybee diseases. The training was dedicated to the PCR diagnosis methods (conventional and real-time) for detection, identification and/or quantification of honey bee pathogens. This training was intended for EU NRLs that have little or no experience in the diagnosis of bee diseases by PCR and wish to implement such methods. The requirements and recommendations for implementation of PCR diagnosis described in the international standards (OIE and ISO 17025) were presented. Then, the implementation and the performance of PCR diagnosis methods as long as the interpretation of either qualitative or quantitative results were detailed. Presentations are available for members of the network on the website.

We would  like to announce an important news: the Standard EN ISO 19020 on detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in food has been published by ISO and CEN, dated June 2017.

The EU RL for Honeybee Health held its 7th. annual workshop on 17th. October 2017. The main activities conducted by the EU RL in 2017 were presented. The agenda focused on the enhancement of diagnostic tools in parasitology, virology and bacteriology, the production of reference materials and the organization of two interlaboratory proficiency tests (ILPTs) in 2017 – one on Nosema spores counting by microscopy and another on the determination of neonicotinoid residues in beebread. Besides the presentation of the main actions and activities conducted by the EU RL, participants had the pleasure to listen to presentations from various NRL representatives. In addition, Dr. Panuwan Chantawannakul (Chiang Mai University, Thailand) was invited to present current knowledge on Tropilaelaps spp. mites. Dr. Metka Pislak Ocepek, from the Slovenian NRL, gave a talk on their activities and the honey bee health status in their country. Hemma Köglberger, from the Austrian NRL presented a surveillance study set up during one year in Austria to collect data on colony losses. Dr. Franco Mutinelli presented a state of play of the occurrence and surveillance of the small hive beetle in Southern Italy and Kirsty Stainton from the British NRL showed the actions set up following the detection of Asian hornet specimens in United Kingdom in 2016. We thank all the speakers for their interesting presentations and to all contributors of this fruitful workshop. Presentations are available for members of the network on the website.

♦ 13-15 June 2017 ♦ Thank you to all of you who registered to one or both meetings that will be held next month in Budapest! A total of ninety-five scientists and representatives of institutions from all over the world have promised to attend either the 9th Workshop for Rabies or the Rabies Serology Meeting, showing the huge concern regarding this disease. See you all in Budapest!