- WHO launched a global plan to address dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and other Aedes-borne diseases, with over 12.3 million dengue cases reported by August 2024.
- The strategy focuses on coordination, surveillance, community engagement, clinical care, and access to treatments and vaccines.
- The initiative requires $55 million and will run until September 2025, aiming to protect four billion people at risk of infection.
On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness, and Response Plan (SPRP) to address dengue and other diseases spread by Aedes mosquitoes.
The plan aims to reduce illness, suffering, and deaths from dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and similar viruses through a coordinated global response.
Currently, about four billion people are at risk of contracting arboviruses globally, and this number could rise to five billion by 2050. Dengue cases have spiked across all six WHO regions, nearly doubling each year since 2021. And by the end of August this year, over 12.3 million cases were reported—almost double the 6.5 million cases recorded for all of 2023.
“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,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
The plan details key actions to control disease spread and provides recommendations for affected countries in areas like surveillance, lab work, vector control, community engagement, clinical management, and research. It takes a whole-of-society and regional approach.
The SPRP comprises five key components essential for a successful outbreak response:
- Emergency coordination: Establish leadership and organize response activities.
- Collaborative surveillance: Develop tools for early detection and control of dengue and Aedes-borne outbreaks; enhance surveillance, lab diagnostics, and field investigations.
- Community protection: Engage communities in discussions and adapt prevention and response measures, including mosquito control.
- Safe and scalable care: Ensure effective clinical management and health services for proper patient care and to prevent illness and death.
- Access to countermeasures: Promote research and innovation to improve treatments and develop effective vaccines.
The plan will be implemented over one year until September 2025 and requires $55 million to support health preparedness, readiness, and response efforts.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
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