[cid:image001.gif@01CF4918.51C40F80] Launching VMERGE: a Research Consortium to better understand Rift Valley fever and other Vector-Borne diseases [cid:image003.jpg@01CF491D.1317F490]Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) like Rift Valley fever (RFV) or Bluetongue are increasingly threatening animal health. They are also spreading to previously unaffected geographic areas, increasing alarm and concern, particularly in northern Africa and Europe. VBDs not only have a significant negative impact on local livelihoods, but also on national and international trade and food production. In the case of RVF, its zoonotic nature adds an important public health dimension...[Read more<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_250314.html>] ________________________________ Post-rinderpest era but not "case closed" FAO "In action" section [cid:image005.jpg@01CF491D.1317F490]Key facts ::: Rinderpest virus was arguably the first weapon used in what is now called "bioterrorism." Folklore maintains that Genghis Khan sent rinderpest-infected cattle into the herds of his enemies to wipe out their food supply, making them easier to conquer. In more modern times, an outbreak in the 1980s killed millions of cattle and wild ruminants across Africa and continued to devastate farmers and pastoralists in some of the world's poorest rural areas. Today, thanks to the efforts of FAO along with a host of other international organizations and national veterinary services, rinderpest has been wiped from the face of the earth. It was declared eradicated in 2011...[Read more<http://www.fao.org/in-action/post-rinderpest-era-but-not-case-closed/en/>] ________________________________ FAO's role in animal health - new thematic page [cid:image007.jpg@01CF491D.1317F490]The Animal Health theme page has now been launched on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) website, amongst other theme pages including 'trade', 'the South South Cooperation', 'Investment in Agriculture', etc. The theme page acts as a general introduction to animal health and a portal from which to navigate towards more specialised information, departments and networks...[Read more<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_250314b.html>] ________________________________ Latest publication · Addressing avian influenza A(H7N9) - (French version) ü Mise à jour de l'évaluation qualitative des risques<http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/i3631f/i3631f.pdf> ________________________________ Upcoming events · First technical meeting of the RESEPI & RESOLAB networks of Central Africa<http://www.fao-ectad-bamako.org/fr/RESEPI-RESOLAB,514?lang=en> 24-28 March 2014 (N'djamena, Chad) · REMESA Joint Permanent Committee Meeting 27-28 March 2014 (La Valette, Malta) · EIO14 - Engaging Intergovernmental Organizations 2014<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/documents/docs/agenda_EIO_2014.pdf> 28 March 2014 (Rome, Italy FAO-HQ) · 8th GF-TADs Management Committee Meeting 1 April 2014 (Rome, Italy FAO-HQ) · 87 Executive Committee meeting of the EuFMD 2-3 April 2014 (Cape Town, South Africa) ________________________________ Interesting links · GALVmed Newsletter<http://www.galvmed.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/GALVmed-Newsletter-March-2014.pdf> March 2014 EMPRES website ::: http://www.fao.org/AG/empres.html For comments or suggestions ::: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [cid:image008.gif@01CF4918.51C40F80]<http://www.flickr.com/photos/empres-animal_health/sets/> [cid:image009.gif@01CF4918.51C40F80] <http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB58F4D829B7883FD> [cid:image010.gif@01CF4918.51C40F80] <https://twitter.com/FAOAnimalHealth> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the EMPRES-Livestock-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(EMPRES-Livestock-L,SIGNOFF);