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IFAH Supports World Health Organisation in Safeguarding Public Health by Fighting Vector-Borne Disease

Brussels, 7th April 2014 – On World Health Day, the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) has highlighted vector-borne disease as a topic of critical importance for global public health. Nearly half of the world’s human population is infected with at least one type of vector-borne disease(i) and according to The World Health Organisation (WHO), more than one million die from vector-borne diseases each year. With this international public threat continuing to grow, this year’s World Health Day, on 7th April 2014, will place focus on vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, schistosomiasis, and yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other vectors. Carel du Marchie Sarvaas, IFAH Executive Director, says: “Fighting vector-borne disease requires the collaboration between the veterinary and public health industries. That’s why we’re backing WHO’s World Health Day, in the hope that this will be a significant step towards prioritising this topic on the global health agenda and ultimately helping to prevent these diseases and protect people from infection.” IFAH is the global representative for manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in both developed and developing countries. To find out more about IFAH and the contribution of the animal health industry to controlling vector-borne disease, visit: http://www.ifahsec.org/who-we-are/zoonoses-outbreaks/ For more information on vector-borne disease, visit: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs387/en/ IFAH can also be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Health4Animals.

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(i) Vector-Borne Diseases: Understanding the Environmental, Human Health, and Ecological Connections, Workshop Summary (Forum on Microbial Threats) ( 2008 ) / Summary and Assessment. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Vector-Borne Diseases – constant challenge for practicing veterinarians: recommendations from the CVBD World Forum. Baneth et al. Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:55 – http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/5/1/55

Notes for editors

IFAH

The International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) is an organisation representing manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in both developed and developing countries across five continents. The mission of IFAH is to foster a greater understanding of animal health matters and promote a predictable, science-based regulatory environment that facilitates the supply of innovative and quality animal medicines, vaccines and other animal health products into a competitive market place. These products contribute to a healthy and safe food supply as well as a high standard of health and welfare for animals and people.

For further information on IFAH, please visit www.ifahsec.org

For further press information please contact

Luke Hopkins, IFAH press office Kim Hardie, Communications Director

Tel.: +44 1903 277817 Tel.: +32 2 543 75 75

E-mail: lhopkins@thisispegasus.co.uk E-mail: k.hardie@ifahsec.org

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