ASEAN Dengue Day unites Asia Pacific in combating rising dengue cases

Dengue has been considered to be one of the fastest rising infectious diseases globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 50 to 100 million cases of dengue worldwide are being listed every year, and from this big number, an estimated 20,000 fatalities occur annually around the world. The Asia Pacific region bears the 75 percent of the global burden, which indicates a significant socio-economic burden that should be addressed in a collaborative and proactive way. With the increasing number of dengue cases, there are many ongoing efforts in combating the disease, however, dengue prevention and control are facing many challenges. The increase in cases and geographical expansion of affected countries can be attributed toseveral factors—change in climate, early onset of rainfall, growing population densities, and greater international and local travel. According to Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, dengue has a significant impact on health, the economy and...