The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a comprehensive plan to tackle the growing threat of dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses, which pose a risk to over four billion people worldwide ¹. The Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) aims to reduce the burden of disease, suffering, and deaths from dengue and other related diseases like Zika and chikungunya.
Dengue cases have surged across all six WHO regions, with over 12.3 million cases reported as of August this year, almost double the 6.5 million cases reported in all of 2023. The disease is endemic in tropical and subtropical climates, particularly in South-East Asia, the Western Pacific, and the Americas, with Africa also facing significant challenges.
Key Factors Contributing to the Spread of Dengue
Several factors are facilitating the rapid geographical spread of dengue, including:
- Unplanned urbanization_
- Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene practices
- Climate change_
- International travel_ ¹
The Five-Key Component Plan:
The SPRP comprises five essential components for a successful outbreak response:
-Emergency Coordination: Establishing leadership and coordination activities
-Collaborative Surveillance: Developing tools for early detection and control of outbreaks
-Community Protection*: Engaging communities through active dialogue and local adaptation of prevention measures
. Safe and Scalable Care: Ensuring effective clinical management and resilient health services
- Access to Countermeasures: Promoting research and innovation for improved treatments and vaccines.
The plan requires $55 million to support health preparedness, readiness, and response efforts and will be implemented over one year until September 2025 ¹. It is aligned with the Global Vector Control Response 2017-2030 and the Global Arbovirus Initiative, launched in 2022.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized that “everyone has a role to play in the fight against dengue” and called for a coordinated response across sectors and borders.
WHO/Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
