Mexico 2012 World Down Syndrome Day

For the 2012 World Down Syndrome Day (21 March), the mexican postal authority released a stamp featuring the painting by Lorena Velez entitled "The Monarch Butterfly" (La Mariposa Monarca), for which the reproduction could be purchased at the John Langdon Down Foundation School of Fine Arts site. John Langdon Haydon (18 November 1828 - 7 October 1896) was a British doctor who described the relatively common genetic disorder of Down Syndrome.

France 2012 30th Anniversary of 1st heart-lung transplant in Europe

The French Post released on 18 June 2012, a stamp to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first european heart-lung transplant. The transplant was conducted by Professors Christian Cabrol et Iradj Gandjbakhch; the transplant was possible because of the discovery of cyclosporine, an efficient drug to prevent organ rejection. Today, such interventions are limited by the availability of willing donors.

Ecuador 2011 Fight Against Cancer

This stamp was issued on 19 December 2011 by the postal authority of Ecuador, with an anti-cancer theme. On the top right corner shows St George killing the dragon, the symbol for SOLCA  (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer del Ecuador), the Ecuadorian Anti-Cancer Society. The wordings (in Spanish) to the left are probably the society's campaign motto - Cancer occurs when you least expect it / Check for it today / Early detection is the cure. The background illustration shows a histological image of tissue, usually taken from biopsies conducted during screening for cancer; the biopsied tissues may be stained according to the type of cancer to be screened and then examined under a microscope by a pathologist, the stained tissues would also be typically photographed under microscope and stored for further examination.

Mexico 2011 Food Safety & Security

This beautiful souvenir sheet was released by Mexico on 18 October 2011 on the theme of Health and Security in Mexico. From the illustrations, it is obvious that the focus is on food safety and food security. The sheet contains 6 stamps: The first stamp is about Alfonso Luis Herrera Lopez, a pioneer of plant health in Mexico; the second stamp features the meat industry, stating the fact of freedom from foot and mouth disease (FMD) for more than half a century, and showing an inspection and approval seal of SAGARPA (Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food; the third stamp features Dieter Enkerlin and his work in pest control in the cotton industry using sterile insect technique; the fourth stamp emphasizes good practices in food industry; the fifth stamp features control, inspection and verification in food distribution; the last stamp features research and development based on antibodies and genetics, this stamp features the double helical representation of DNA. The sheet selvage features various scenes in the food industry and representation of type of food in Mexico.

Each of the 6 stamps is watermarked with fluorescent ink bearing the symbol of SENASICA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria), Natioanl Agroalimentary Health, Safety & Quality Services, as shown below with one of the stamps illuminated with UV light.