16 INFECTIOUS DISEASE, DISASTER PLANNING & WOUND CARE | 2019 | www.elitecme.com VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES  | A ccording to the World Health Organization, a vector is a “living organisms that can transmit infec- tious diseases between humans or from ani- mals to humans.” Therefore, a vector-borne disease is a “human illness caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria that are transmitted by mosquitoes, sandflies, triatomine bugs, black- flies, ticks, tsetse flies, mites, snails and lice.” The World Health Organization esti- mates that there are approximately 700,000 deaths annually due to vector-borne diseases. The most common vector-borne disease is undoubtedly lice; the most common deadly vector-borne diseases are Lyme disease and malaria. Other vector-borne diseases include zika, dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile virus, and Lyme disease. Although we haven’t figured out how to get rid of vector-borne diseases, here’s an update on how we’re working on fighting them. GLOBAL VECTOR CONTROL RESPONSE The Global Vector Control Response (GVCR) Update on Vector-Borne Diseases As healthcare professionals, we’re all familiar with vector-borne diseases, but occasionally we forget the terminology – especially if we’re not working directly with vector-borne diseases on a regular basis. By Krystina Ostermeyer RN, BSN, CDE