WHO Announces Global Plan to Battle Dengue and Other Arboviral Diseases
Rapid Spread of the Disease Demands Coordinated Response
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday a global plan to battle dengue and other diseases carried by mosquitoes as they spread faster and further amid climate change.
“The rapid spread of dengue and other arboviral diseases in recent years is an alarming trend that demands a coordinated response across sectors and across borders,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
Increasing Global Impact
The UN health agency said the number of reported dengue cases has approximately doubled each year since 2021, with over 12.3 million cases, including more than 7,900 deaths, reported in just the first eight months of 2024.
That is already almost double the 6.5 million cases reported throughout the whole of 2023.
About Dengue
Dengue can cause high fever and body aches, but most people have no symptoms, and the WHO estimates that there are between 100 million and 400 million infections each year.
The disease is caused by an arbovirus carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, whose territory has spread as the planet warms.
Spread of the Disease
Factors like unplanned urbanisation and poor water, sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as international travel, have also facilitated the rapid spread of the disease, which is now endemic in over 130 countries, WHO said.
At-Risk Population
Currently, an estimated four billion people worldwide are at risk of contracting dengue and other arboviruses, including chikungunya and zika, with that number estimated to swell to five billion by 2050, it warned.
WHO’s Plan
WHO’s plan is aimed at fostering a coordinated global response, including through disease surveillance, laboratory activities, vector control and research and development of improved treatments and effective vaccines.
The agency said it would require $55 million in funding to implement the plan over the next year.
Conclusion
The fight against dengue and other arboviral diseases requires a joint effort from governments, international organizations, and individuals. By working together, we can reduce the spread of the disease and protect vulnerable populations.
FAQs
Q: What is dengue?
A: Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by an arbovirus.
Q: How many people are affected by dengue annually?
A: The WHO estimates that there are between 100 million and 400 million infections each year.
Q: What is the WHO plan to combat dengue?
A: The plan aims to foster a coordinated global response through disease surveillance, laboratory activities, vector control and research and development of improved treatments and effective vaccines.
Q: How much funding will the WHO plan require?
A: The agency said it would require $55 million in funding to implement the plan over the next year.