SMALL BITE, BIG THREAT: GLOBAL WAR AGAINST VECTORS

Vector-borne diseases cause more than one million deaths each year. Diseases spread by vectors kill a million people every year and
more than half of the world’s population is at risk. Malaria is the biggest killer among vector-borne diseases. Each year, around half a
million patients with severe dengue require hospitalization. Japanese encephalitis can permanently damage the central nervous system.
Around 120 million people are currently infected with lymphatic filariasis, and about 40 million of them are disfigured and disabled.
Another concern is that these vectors in several countries are developing resistance to highly effective class of insecticides. Hence all
the countries must appreciate the urgent need to act before an alarming situation deteriorates any further. Vector control programmes
need to adapt to match the changing epidemiological patterns of new emerging threats. The emergence of vector-borne diseases in
new parts of the world – clearly highlight the increasing threat of these diseases to global public health.


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