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Three brown and white cows with noses in hay. In front of them are seven orange chickens.

14 January 2025

Bird flu in cattle ‘not an increased threat to humans’ study shows

A study of bird flu viruses in cows shows the H5N1 strain does not pose an increased threat to humans. H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has caused a panzootic affecting all continents except Australia, expanding its host range to several mammalian species. First detected in milk…

Cows

14 January 2025

WOAH marks 100 years of outstanding Pirbright science

The research excellence of The Pirbright Institute, which has helped to eradicate some of the world’s most damaging livestock diseases, is highlighted in a centenary review. Published to mark the founding of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in 1924, the special edition of the…

Latest news

Three sheep in a field

02 September 2024

Watch: How Pirbright scientists predict, detect, and tackle bluetongue virus

Spread by biting midges, bluetongue virus poses a significant threat to livestock production and trade. Discover how scientists at The Pirbright Institute predict, detect, understand and respond to bluetongue virus.

culicoides biting midge sitting on a green stalk pirbright

08 December 2023

Pirbright joins hub to tackle vector-borne diseases

The Pirbright Institute is to work with scientific partners to establish a centre where experts tackle diseases spread by insects, ticks and mites. The £1.5m One Health Vector-Borne Diseases Hub is led by Imperial College London and funded by Defra and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences…

Influenza A H5N1 under the microscope

Meet Pirbright’s new Fellows

Say hello to three new Fellows at The Pirbright Institute, discover their journey to joining the organisation and find out what research their new groups will be undertaking. Dr Marion England - Vector Ecology Tell us about your career before you were made a Fellow at Pirbright My PhD, which I…

Midge enclosure at the Tiny Giants exhibit

Pirbright midges featured in ZSL London Zoo exhibit

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have worked with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo to showcase the importance of Culicoides biting midges within the Zoo’s revamped ‘ Tiny Giants’ exhibit. The exhibit shines a spotlight on the planet’s smallest animals, where visitors will find…

Close up of two Culicoides biting midges on human skin

Monitoring midge habits in zoos could hold important clues for disease outbreaks

The first study to confirm the feeding habits of midges on exotic animals in UK zoos has been published in Parasites and Vectors and could hold important clues to prevent disease outbreaks in Northern Europe. A team of researchers from The Pirbright Institute, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)…

culicoides biting midge sitting on a green stalk pirbright

Pirbright team show UK midge season has extended due to climate change

A team of scientists at The Pirbright Institute, Rothamsted Research, The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Met Office have provided the first evidence that the UK midge season has extended over the last 40 years due to climate change. The findings could help scientists to make better…

Marwell Energy for Life exhibit by Pirbright

Pirbright and Marwell Zoo show how climate change could increase disease risk in the UK

The good health of animals is Marwell Zoo’s highest priority, but how can Marwell protect its residents against exotic diseases? Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have helped to create an exhibit in the Zoo’s new Tropical House to explain how climate change may increase the risk of diseases…

UK study of mosquito feeding habits shows some species more choosy than others

The largest study of blood feeding by mosquitoes ever conducted in the UK, has revealed that some species are more selective than others when choosing a host. Researchers aimed to discover which birds and mammals mosquitoes were biting in order to understand the potential for the UK to experience…