Keynote Address with Dr. Stan Houston, MD, DTM&H, FRCPC

Dengue Fever:  A Global Health Priority

Dengue, a mosquito borne viral infection, is the fastest growing tropical disease, causing hundreds of millions of infections each year with an expanding  geographic footprint.  Severe forms of the disease can be caused by a unique effect of the immune response following recurrent infection.  Among a variety of control strategies, one of the most promising involves the establishment of a bacterial flora in the vector mosquito. Current vaccines have limitations and development of treatment is at an early stage.  This presentation will emphasize the evolving big picture factors of urbanization, climate change and public health failure that have led to the success of the virus and will review what's new in dengue and dengue control.

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Dr. Stan Houston, MD, DTM&H, FRCPC graduated MD in 1975 from the University of Saskatchewan and subsequently obtained qualifications in Family Medicine, Tropical Medicine, Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He worked in primary care in northern Saskatchewan and rural Lesotho and Internal Medicine for four years at the University of Zimbabwe. He participated in TB control projects in Ecuador and South Sudan for over 10 years and has links with universities in Uganda.  He is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Public Health at the 海角社区, former director of the Northern Alberta HIV Program and was active in the development of Harm Reduction activities and refugee health in Edmonton. He practiced Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine here for over 30 years. Recent interests include One Health.