French research institutes team up to tackle emerging diseases

Brussels, 25 July 2002

Three leading French research institutes have pledged closer cooperation to tackle emerging diseases transmitted by 'vectors' such as mosquitoes.

The Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), the Institut Pasteur and the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) signed the framework agreement on 8 July to combat diseases such as Nile Fever and Blue Tongue, which are becoming an increasingly widespread threat due to factors such as climate change.

By strengthening their partnership, the three institutes aim to tackle the diseases in the southern countries, such as Africa and India, where they originate and prevent them spreading to other areas.

For further information, please contact:

Didier Fontenille
Researcher
IRD
Montpellier
France
Tel: +33 4 67 41 32 22
E-mail: didier.fontenille@mpl.ird.fr

http://www.ird.fr

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001