A twitter-based early warning system to alert vets and dog owners of cases of canine parvovirus (CPV) in their area is to go live on 1 November 2012.
Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that can prove fatal; therefore instant information regarding an outbreak is essential in reducing the numbers of cases.
Launched by Virbac Animal Health, @parvoalert is a twitter feed that updates followers on the geographic location of cases of the disease using the first half of the relevant postcode. Vets and owners are encouraged to tweet the first half of the postcode where the case occurs to @parvoalert. This free service enables Virbac to retweet the information enabling all to see where an outbreak has occurred.
As well as alerting owners, Virbac will automatically provide practices in ‘at-risk’ areas with a ‘Parvo-alert’ Pack, containing a range of tools and support materials to help them alert dog owners.
Virbac is the largest independent veterinary pharmaceutical company in the world. This latest initiative will help prevent the spread of the disease as well as raise awareness to owners about vaccination and symptoms.
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