In the past century, many advances were made in the control of vector-borne diseases. Malaria disappeared from the northern hemisphere, diseases such as typhus, Bartonella and yellow fever were seriously reduced in prevalence and in many countries effective methods of disease control contributed to a greatly reduced incidence of such diseases. Most of these advances were beneficial to the industrialised world, whereas underdeveloped countries continued to suffer much as before. Indeed, several diseases such as malaria, Rift Valley fever and African sleeping sickness are still highly prevalent in parts of the tropics. ‘New’ vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya fever and West Nile fever, have emerged and are invading previously disease-free regions. The discovery of new drugs and vaccines has made great advances and allows for the effective treatment and control of many diseases