WHO Exotic diseases in Germany

Dengue, malaria and other exotic pathogens could soon also occur in Germany

04/04/2014

Exotic infectious diseases such as malaria, leptospirosis and dengue, West Nile or Chikungunya fever could also occur in Germany in the future. So far, only persons were among those affected in this country, who have been in tropical countries and infected there with the dangerous pathogens. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), transmitters of exotic pathogens such as mosquitoes and rodents, the so-called vectors, but increasingly also in Europe, are spreading. To prevent an outbreak of disease, a seven-year action plan was agreed, agreed by the 53 countries of the European Region. This must include, in particular, the education of the population as well as the sensitization of the medical staff, the WHO demands.

Infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever come to Europe
Infectious diseases such as malaria or West Nile fever can be life-threatening if left untreated. Due to poor medical care, hundreds of thousands of people die every year, especially in Africa, Asia and other less developed regions, as a result of a so-called vector infection. These diseases are caused by dangerous pathogens that are transmitted by mosquitoes, mice or other animals. Malaria is usually caused by the Anopheles mosquito, dengue fever by the females of the yellow fever or Asian tiger mosquito, West Nile fever also by mosquitoes and leptospirosis by rats, mice and dogs when humans come into contact with the animals' urine, transfer.

For a long time, these diseases were limited to the tropics and subtropics, as the pathogens or the carriers need a corresponding climate. In the course of climate change and increased willingness to travel to exotic countries, the pathogens are increasingly penetrating into milder climates. The carelessness of tourists plays an important role, informs the Regional Office of the WHO in Copenhagen.

Every year, around 77,000 people in the European Region suffer from a vector-borne disease every year. In the period from 1990 to 2010, according to the WHO, 1.5 million people were affected by such an infection. „There are clear warnings for the European Region that vector-borne diseases will increase in the coming years, "WHO Regional Director Zsuzsanna Jakab told the news agency „dpa“. Dengue fever has already reached Europe. „In 2012 there was a first outbreak on the Portuguese island group of Madeira ... with more than 2000 cases“, complements the experts. WHO has made the vector-borne diseases the focus of World Health Day on April 7 this year.

No vaccine is available for many exotic infectious diseases
The World Population Foundation in Hannover points out that every year about half a million people die of vector diseases and their consequences. Especially in malaria, the mortality rate is still dramatically high. „Each year, 600,000 people die from this preventable and treatable disease, "said Renate Bähr, the foundation's CEO, to the news agency „dpa“. Most children are under five years affected. Bähr also emphasizes that since 2000, 3.3 million children have been saved through improved diagnosis and treatment. But that should not hide the fact that medical care in many African, Asian and South American countries continues to be very poor and many sufferers have no opportunity to get treatment at all.

In addition, precautionary measures are a major pillar in the fight against malaria. According to the WHO, mosquito nets in particular protected against the momentous mosquito bites, which so far only about every second household has in malaria areas.

WHO, the World Population Foundation and many other organizations are committed to better health care in developing countries, as well as to the expansion of research into vaccines, which has so far been slowed by lack of funding. According to the foundation, the federal government is also called upon to invest more money here. (Ag)