The theme of World Health Day 2014 is vector-borne diseases, under the slogan "Small bite: big threat". Vectors are small organisms that carry diseases and spread them from person to person and place to place. They can put our health at risk, at home and when we travel. Every year more than one million people die from vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis and yellow fever. Many more people are left with chronic illness and disabilities as a result of infection.
It is time to draw global attention to the threat posed by vectors and vector-borne diseases. The World Health Day campaign aims to raise awareness of the threat posed by vectors and vector-borne diseases and to encourage families and communities to take simple measures to protect themselves.