Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm over looming global outbreaks of dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito-borne arboviruses amid effects of climate change.
In a press conference, health experts from WHO warned of the surge in dengue and chikungunya cases in many parts of the world and said new epidemics of zika could also be expected.
All those diseases are caused by arboviruses carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which have spread to new places as temperature continues to rise.
“Climate change has played a key role in facilitating the spread of the vector mosquitoes,” said Raman Velayudhan, the coordinator for WHO’s dengue and arbovirus initiative.
According to WHO, 129 nation’s are at risk from dengue, including 100 countries where the disease is categorized as endemic.
Meanwhile, chikungunya, which has been reported in 115 countries since its detection in 1950, is facing a surge in cases.
Velayudhan and Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO’s technical lead on chikungunya and zika, called for urgent action to stop the spread of the virus-carrying mosquitos as fears for outbreaks in new regions grow.
