This year's edition of the EU Veterinary Week (28 September to 4 October 2009), organised by the European Commission in partnership with Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, aims once more to promote the work and the role of EU veterinarians for animal and public health.
The EU Veterinary Week will promote the concept of "One Health" and pass the key message that animal diseases are having an increasing impact on public health and that high standards of animal health have a positive impact on human health and wellbeing. As this theme concerns a number of other international organisations, this year the EU Veterinary Week is also being supported by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
A conference entitled "Animals + Humans = One health" will launch the start of the EU Veterinary Week in Brussels. The conference will focus on several examples of diseases that exemplify the link between animal and human health, such as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and influenzas. Influenzas will be discussed further during an additional conference in Brussels planned for 30 October. As the start of the EU Veterinary Week coincides with World Rabies Day (28 September), rabies will also be debated and a video entitled "EU pet passports and the fight against rabies" will be released.
In addition, events will take place in several Veterinary Faculties throughout the EU during the week. The aim of these events will be to encourage discussions between veterinary and medical students and to encourage better cooperation between both health sectors.
For more information please visit: http://www.one-health.eu