Emerging concerns of vector-borne diseases continue to face livestock industries globally. The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) and American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) are prepared to take a hard look at the United States ability to address these diseases. During the annual meeting of USAHA and AAVLD a Joint Plenary Session entitled "Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases: What’s the Risk?" has been scheduled. The Annual Meeting will be held October 8-14, 2009 in San Diego, Calif., at the Town and Country Resort and Hotel.
"Bluetongue virus is an emerging threat to the livestock industry, and a primary example of the potential impacts from vector-borne diseases," says Dr. Richard Breitmeyer, California State Veterinarian and President-elect of USAHA. "As we look at recent trends in Europe it is important for the U.S. to consider current capabilities and future needs to effectively address surveillance, preparedness and response strategies if this virus or other emerging vector-borne diseases were to become prevalent here."
A vector-borne disease is commonly defined as one in which the infection is transmitted by an arthropod, such as a tick, mosquito, or gnat. Many vector-borne diseases are zoonotic in nature, although Bluetongue virus in particular is not known to infect humans. Other important vector-borne diseases include African horse sickness, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, West Nile virus, and vesicular stomatitis.
"As we look at the body of knowledge on vector-borne diseases, there’s an opportunity to bring that new information to the forefront of veterinary medicine as an area we need to be better prepared," says Dr. Gary Anderson, Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Director and AAVLD President-elect. "The Joint Plenary Session will look at the various facets of vector-borne diseases, and draw on experiences both in the U.S. and internationally to give members of our organizations a chance to reflect and address the regulatory and diagnostic needs in this area."
The session will be held on October 12 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., during the organizations’ Annual Meeting. For more information, please go to http://www.usaha.org or http://www.aavld.org.
Source:
USAHA
Contact: Ben Richey, 816-671-1144, brichey@usaha.org