WHO urges greater efforts to stamp out dengue
MANILA,
Oct. 5 (PNA) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a
spreading threat of dengue outbreaks in the Asia Pacific Region unless
a more comprehensive approach to control is urgently taken.
The
WHO in a statement, urged countries to ensure high level political
commitment so that adequate human and financial resources are made
available for dengue prevention and outbreak response, including
exploring possible opportunities to piggy-back on existing public
health initiatives.
The
health body said aedes aegypti mosquito, the principal vector for
dengue fever, is expanding to new geographical areas that were
previously unaffected. Of an estimated 2.5 billion people at risk
globally, about 1.8 billion or more than 70 percent reside in Asia
Pacific countries.
The
WHO Western Pacific Region has endorsed the Dengue Strategic Plan for
the Asia Pacific Region 2008–2015. The move is considered a critical
step towards securing political commitment and the allocation of
resources by Member States to address the increasing threat from
dengue.
The
dengue plan calls for concrete action to reduce case fatality rates;
guidance on environmental management of urban development and
vector-control measures and educating people on recognition of dengue
fever and the need for prompt medical care.
The
revised biregional Dengue Strategic Plan was developed with the active
involvement of WHO Member States, the WHO Regional Offices for the
Western Pacific and South-East Asia and several leading experts in the
field.(PNA)
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