The EU Vet Diary
This is the first time that we have produced a diary aimed specifically at EU veterinary students and I would like take this opportunity to congratulate you for the important career that you have embarked on.
Androulla Vassiliou,
the EU Commissioner
for Health
Veterinarians play a crucial role in protecting animals and society as a whole from the negative effects of diseases such as avian influenza, foot and mouth disease and bluetongue. They play a crucial role at each stage of the food chain, “from stable to table”. For example, by checking that only healthy animals are slaughtered for human consumption, or by alerting the authorities at the first signs of disease on the farm. Through their work, vets across the European Union help to ensure that we can reach our goal of “One health” for all, encompassing both animals and people in good health.
To illustrate better how the health of humans and animals are inter-linked, we have included in your diaries information on 6 different zoonoses. In particular, rabies has been included, because although the EU has gone a long way towards eradicating it in recent years, it remains a problem in a number of neighbouring countries. I therefore invite you to participate in actions to raise awareness of this disease and in particular during ‘World Rabies Day’ on 28 September 2009…
The EU Veterinary Diary 2009-2010 has been prepared by the Directorate-General Health and Consumers of the European Commission (DG SANCO), together with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE). For this first edition of the diary, DG SANCO is particularly grateful to the OIE and the Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, for the specific technical diseases information in this diary. As regards rabies, DG SANCO would also like to acknowledge the support received from the Alliance for Rabies Control and in turn supports its “World Rabies Day” initiative.