April 7th is World Health day, an opportunity for all New Yorkers to improve public health through awareness and discussion. This year’s World Health Day priority health concern is vector-borne diseases, those carried by living organisms such as ticks, mosquitoes, sand flies, and others, passed to humans through blood or prolonged contact. Lyme disease, West Nile fever, and hemorrhagic fever are just a few to be on the watch for in New York State. Being aware of where vectors live, how to avoid them, and signs that an infection is beginning can prevent infection or lead to its discovery before it causes more severe health issues.

For more information about vector-borne diseases, please visit any of following websites:

• http://www.health.ny.gov/
• http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/
• http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/