Outbreaks of dengue fever have risen in the Asia Pacific region in the past year, killing three times more victims in 2008 than in recent years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Chusak Prasittisuk, a dengue specialist with the WHO, said 3,255 people died of the disease last year in the organisation's Southeast Asia countries grouping, which also includes South Asia and North Korea as well as Indonesia, Thailand and Timor Leste. This compared to 1,202 in 2003.
Dengue fever, an old enemy to the region, is gathering strength, with almost three times as many people in South-east Asia dying of the haemorrhagic form last year, compared with five years ago. It is fast spreading to newer areas in the Asia-Pacific region, and with more frequent outbreaks. Altogether, 1.8 billion people in the region are at risk of being infected.
According to latest statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever - in which uncontrollable bleeding occurs - have increased by more than 70 per cent since 2003.
Singapore had seen a 26 per cent jump in dengue cases in the first nine weeks of this year, compared to the same period in 2008. And authorities are taking a more concerted approach in the fight against the mosquito-borne disease, which can be fatal in its severest form.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Aedes mosquito, which transmits dengue fever, was spreading to areas that were once unaffected.
Singapore and the World Health Organization (WHO) today kicked off the first capacity building Asia-Pacific dengue workshop in Singapore. According to a government statement, the eight-day workshop will provide program managers, laboratory personnel and other key program staff with important tools to be able to address dengue outbreak preparedness more effectively. It aims to equip Asia-Pacific countries with the skills to implement more effective integrated national dengue control programs.
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