Asean Dengue Day: One Year On

Asean Dengue Day: One Year On

Manila, Philippines, 15 June 2012—The World Health Organization (WHO) joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in marking ASEAN Dengue Day on 15 June.

Reiterating its call on all sectors of society to unite in the battle against the disease, WHO urged countries to find innovative ways to improve regional cooperation.

ASEAN Member States—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Viet Nam—are holding simultaneous activities to raise awareness on dengue and to mobilize resources for its prevention and control.

Dengue remains a serious public health threat, with the Asia Pacific Region bearing 75% of the current global disease burden. It is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Worldwide, dengue claims about 20 000 deaths each year.

"ASEAN unity for a dengue-free community" is this year's theme. Representatives of ASEAN and international partners also gathered in Yangon, Myanmar, on 14 June for the second regional celebration of ASEAN Dengue Day and to demonstrate the Region’s commitment in tackling this disease.

In 2011, the ASEAN Dengue Conference called for strengthened regional cooperation and capacity and intersectoral collaboration.

At the first regional ASEAN Dengue Day last year, the Jakarta Call for Action was conceived. One year later, members of ASEAN will share what they have done in the battle against this vectorborne disease.

WHO reiterates that dengue cannot be defeated by the health sector alone. It needs the involvement of both private and public sector stakeholders. Member States need to work together as one community to fight dengue.

Related links:
ASEAN Dengue Day http://www.wpro.who.int/emerging_diseases/meetings/ASEAN.dengue.day.2012/en/index.html

ASEAN Dengue Day Booklet http://www.wpro.who.int/emerging_diseases/meetings/docs/action.against.dengue.booklet/en/index.html

ENDS

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