Emerging concerns of vector-borne diseases continue to face livestock industries around the globe.
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 at a Joint Plenary Session entitled “Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases: What’s the Risk?” on October 8-14. The session happens at San Diego, California, at the Town and Country Resort and Hotel.
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. 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.”
For more information, visit www.usaha.org or www.aavld.org.
Source: Ben Richey, USAHA, (816) 671-1144; USDA image.
