‘Britain’s most-diseased man’, The One Show wildlife presenter Mike Dilger, confirmed as keynote speaker for BVA Congress

Mike Dilger's lecture will include his personal experience of contracting a collection of exotic diseases, including malaria, bilharzia and leishmaniasis; leading to his nick-name of 'Britain's most diseased man'.

Mike is an ecologist, natural history presenter and writer with a profound interest in British and tropical flora and fauna, of which he has extensive experience and an encyclopaedic knowledge. He is committed to bringing the beauty of the natural world to a broader audience with enthusiasm and insight.

Mike’s talk “My diseases and other animals” promises to be a hilarious and illuminating lecture inspired by his travels and his thoughts on how the mass media is influencing human engagement with wildlife and nature.

With degrees in both ecology and botany and a life-long passion for natural history, Mike is a well-known face in the world of wildlife presenting and makes regular appearances on BBC’s The One Show and Inside Out. Mike is also the author and co-author of numerous books, including Nightingales in November, Nature’s Calendar and Nature’s Babies.

The Wooldridge Memorial Lecture is open to all London Vet Show attendees and will take place in the BVA Congress Theatre at London’s ExCeL at 1-2pm on Friday 16 November.

British Veterinary Association President Simon Doherty said:

“The veterinary profession is increasingly engaged with ‘One Health’ in recognition of the fact that animal and human wellbeing are inextricably linked to one another and to our environment.

“Mike Dilger’s work to bring these links to life for the wider public has had a significant impact on the way society interacts with animals, which is of enormous interest to our members.

“We look forward to welcoming all London Vet Show attendees to hear more about Mike’s expertise and anecdotes. I know that our audience will be fascinated, as I am, to hear about his first-hand experiences with exotic diseases, such as malaria and leishmaniasis.”

BVA at the London Vet Show

The two-day BVA Congress programme features a line-up of experts digging deep behind the headlines and sharing statistics to provide new insights into well-known problems.

Sessions will cover a broad range of topics related to the veterinary world, including ‘A crisis of confidence? What’s happening to the veterinary workforce?’, ‘Trojan dogs and trafficked pets – why pet travel rules need to change’ and ‘The evolution of slaughter – how science, politics and society shape the way we change animals’.

In addition to the topical issues in BVA Congress, BVA has programmed world-class clinical streams: the BVA Farm Animal theatre and the BVA/BEVA Equine theatre, programmed by BVA in partnership with BEVA. These streams are for the general practitioner, particularly those in mixed practice who may not be treating farm animals or equines exclusively. Attendees can also visit the BVA Farm Associations rooms, providing a more in-depth look at certain species. The Royal Veterinary College will also be offering three companion animal streams covering the latest advances in small animal medicine and two equine streams.

The popular BVA Career Development stream will provide personal and professional development for all career stages. All attendees can get their ‘holiday passport’ stamped to win an adventure holiday for two to Thailand at the BVA stand (K59).

BVA members get access to the full BVA offering, as well as the full London Vet Show programme, for 15% less than the lowest advertised price. Visit our website or call 02476 719 687 to speak to the London Vet Show delegate team.