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Bayer Leads Unique Effort to Support Global Public Health by Fighting Vector-Borne Diseases

Special global web conference “One Health” to address zoonotic disease within the veterinary and public health fields


WEBWIRE

Leverkusen – Nearly half of the world’s population is infected with at least one type of vector-borne disease (1). These diseases are transmitted from parasites to animals and humans, and have a significant impact on public health and our global economy. The economic impact of Lyme disease alone is estimated to be well over $3 billion annually (2). And as international travel makes the spread of disease faster and easier, it is increasingly important for veterinarians and public health professionals to understand prevalent vector-borne diseases.

Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division is opening the online registration and inviting veterinarians, physicians, and public health professionals to join a global web conference on zoonotic vector-borne disease. This 3rd annual Canine Vector-Borne Disease (CVBD) web conference takes place Thursday, 20th March 2014, to raise awareness of parasitic diseases such as those transmitted via ticks (Lyme disease), fleas (canine bartonellosis), and sand flies (leishmaniosis). For this web conference, there will be two sessions: a targeted case study session for veterinarians and a roundtable session for veterinarians, physicians, and allied and public health professionals.

“Vector-Borne disease is a topic of critical importance for global public health,” said Professor Michael Day from the University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Sciences (UK). “It involves both the veterinary and public health fields, and this web conference is unique because it brings both of these audiences and perspectives together.”

The 2014 CVBD conference will involve an international team of global experts to raise awareness about vector-borne disease transmission, and addresses the challenges, opportunities, and surveillance information available to inform public health frameworks. The conference registration opens online. Veterinarians are invited to submit clinical case studies at the website to be considered for sharing with the audience.

“With confirmed experts presenting from the Centers for Disease Control, the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, this 2014 conference is set to surpass the success of past years by engaging a broader audience. In 2012 and 2013, there were over 5,000 participants, from 40 different countries who joined in the live web conference symposia in real time,” said Dr. Norbert Mencke, Director of Global Veterinary Services Companion Animals, Bayer HealthCare Animal Health.

Broadcasting live from Barcelona, Spain, the web conference meetings will be simultaneously translated into English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Russian languages to accommodate a global audience. For the 2014 web conference social media will play a vital role in raising awareness of CVBD, with a live Twitter feed and supporting conference hashtags.

“Veterinary students from around the world will definitely enjoy attending the CVBD Web Conference, because the information is timely, high quality, and easily accessible for these young professionals via the web conference format,” said Pim Polak, President of the International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA).

The CVBD network involves thousands of veterinarians globally. In 2014, by adding the public health focus with the veterinary topic, there will be a broader impact from the CVBD web conference to exchange knowledge and findings about ectoparasite-pathogen-host interaction as well as characterisation and assessment of pathogen and vector distribution. All interested veterinarians, physicians, allied and public health professionals are invited to register at www.cvbdwebconference.com.

About Canine Vector-Borne Disease (CVBD)
Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) are a growing international public health threat. These diseases, transmitted by blood-feeding ectoparasites, include ticks (Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and hemoplasmosis), fleas (canine bartonellosis and feline rickettsiosis), and sand flies (leishmaniosis). They are known to veterinarians and public health professionals throughout the world, and in some cases also have zoonotic consequences.

About the CVBD Web Conference
The CVBD web conference is supported by Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division, a specialist in the field of parasite prevention. This 3rd CVBD web conference is designed to engage information seekers, experts and specialists in veterinary medicine, human health and medicine, and public health to raise scientific awareness of zoonosis, “One Health” and its global impact. More information at www.cvbdwebconference.com.

About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 18.6 billion (2012), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 54,900 employees (Dec 31, 2012) and is represented in more than 100 countries. More information at www.healthcare.bayer.com.



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