1 million deaths from malaria & dengue fever

WHO warns against exotic infectious diseases

05/04/2014

Every year, around one million people worldwide die from mosquito, tick or fly-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. This was stated by the World Population Foundation in Hannover on the occasion of the upcoming World Health Day. The WHO warns against the exotic infectious diseases in this context.

600,000 deaths from malaria each year
On the occasion of the forthcoming World Health Day, the Foundation Weltbevölkerung on Friday in Hanover pointed out that every year about one million people die of mosquito, tick or flue-transmitted diseases, such as malaria or dengue fever. For example, malaria transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito causes hundreds of thousands of deaths each year in Africa alone. The managing director of the foundation, Renate Bähr, stated: „Every year, 600,000 people die of this preventable and treatable disease.“ The majority of them are children under five years. Since the year 2000, however, the lives of more than 3.3 million children have been saved thanks to improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment methods.

More investment in research required
However, this improvement should not hide the fact that medical care continues to be very poor in many countries in Africa, Asia and South America and many sufferers have no opportunity to get treatment at all. The World Population Foundation, which is committed to improving health care in developing countries, has generally called for more investment in research. For many of the infectious diseases transmitted by animals or other organisms, there is still no vaccine, as too little is invested in research and development. The Federal Government is also in demand in this context.

World Health Day focuses on vector-borne diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing on so-called vector-borne diseases at this year's World Health Day on April 7. Among other things, this includes exotic infectious diseases such as malaria or dengue fever, but also the here in Germany widespread tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The common diseases are that they are transmitted from infected living beings to humans. Especially in tropical regions, these diseases represent a major problem. The President of the Kneipp Association, Marion Caspers-Merk, said that one must support other countries with our know-how. „Unfortunately, primary health care is almost catastrophic in many countries around the world“, said the former State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health. She also referred to the increasing threat of vector-borne diseases in Germany as well: „Due to the advancing globalization, the climate change and the increasing air traffic also the danger of a national spreading of various pathogens increases.“

Exotic diseases also in Germany
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also sees this danger and referred on the occasion of the World Health Day on the number of native or traveler-induced pathogens. In Germany, tick-borne Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are among the most common vector-borne diseases. However, RKI also registered exotic diseases in Germany, for example 879 dengue infections alone. Such diseases are usually imported from tropical areas and therefore are repeatedly issued warnings to travelers, such as currently: Dengue fever danger at the 2014 World Cup. Because in Brazil, the infectious disease is widespread. The pathogens or transmitters of such exotic diseases have long been restricted to the tropics subtropics, but in the wake of climate change and increased willingness to travel to exotic countries, the pathogens are increasingly invading milder climates. The carelessness of many tourists also plays a major role, as the regional office of the WHO in Copenhagen announced.

Best prophylaxis is protection against stings
Whether as a traveler in tropical climes or outdoors in nature in our latitudes: The best prophylaxis against vector-borne diseases is still a good protection against stings or bites of the disease carriers. For example, long trousers, long-sleeved outerwear, and mosquito nets often provide as much protection as insect sprays. It should also be noted that some of the insects, such as the malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquito, almost invariably sting at dusk or after sunset. Protect yourself against tick bites by, for example, walking along the paths and not walking in the tall grass or across the thicket. It is best to put your pants in the socks. (Ad)