Earlier this month, IAG Cargo played a crucial role in the international response to an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Working in partnership with Indian biopharmaceutical company Biological E, we transported a shipment containing over five tonnes of diphtheria vaccines from India to Caracas, in a bid to eradicate an outbreak of the contagious disease in the country.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection, spread by physical contact or through breathing in contaminated air. Though much of the developed world has effectively eradicated the disease through vaccination programmes, in some parts of the world, diphtheria still lingers. According to USAID, the suspected cases of diphtheria have risen by more than 50 per cent.
This is not the first time that IAG Cargo has helped transport vital medicines across the world. Our Constant Climate product is specifically designed to ensure conditions in the hold are strictly temperature-controlled, safeguarding the stability of the product in transit. In just the last two years, we have shipped more than two billion vaccines across 90 countries using Constant Climate.
In Latin America, countries have implemented increasingly strict customs procedures for pharmaceutical products. Fortunately, Constant Climate complies with the most stringent regulations and in 2018 we’ve seen a 60 per cent increase in the number of pharmaceutical shipments to the region.
Wherever the next emergency may strike, our dedicated Constant Climate product ensures that vital medicine arrives rapidly and are ready to be administered.