
Specifically WHO responds to vector-borne diseases by: providing evidence-based guidance for controlling vectors and protecting people against infection; providing technical support to countries so that they can effectively manage cases and outbreaks;
Full Answer
Are there any treatments for vector borne diseases?
No medicines are available to treat viral vector- borne diseases, but symptoms can be clinically managed. For bacterial, rickettsial, and parasitic diseases for which treatments do exist, people may still suffer ongoing symptoms, severe disease, and death. New treatment options may help reduce disease impacts.
What does the guidance document mean for vector-borne diseases?
The guidance document is a culmination of more than three years of work and will be a valuable new tool to support global efforts to prevent and control vector-borne diseases (VBDs). VBDs are a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality and have a disproportionate impact on the world’s poorest populations.
What is needed to reverse the upward trends in vector-borne disease incidence?
A concerted and sustained effort is needed to address significant challenges and reverse the upward trends in illness, suffering, and death from vector-borne diseases.
What are vector-borne diseases and are they preventable?
Many of vector-borne diseases are preventable, through protective measures, and community mobilisation. Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans, or from animals to humans.

How do you manage vector-borne diseases?
1. Ensure your vaccinations are up to date for diseases prevalent in the area. 2. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, tucked into socks or boots, and use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing to protect yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes, sandflies or ticks.
What are the 4 major disease vectors?
Disease vectorsMalaria (protozoan): Anopheles species of mosquito.Lymphatic filariasis (nematode worm): Culex, Anopheles, Aedes species of mosquito.Dengue (virus): Aedes species of mosquito.Leishmaniasis (protozoan): mainly Phlebotomus species of sandfly.More items...
What is the most effective prevention method for vector-borne disease?
Insecticide-treated materials (ITMs), typically deployed as insecticide-treated bednets, have proved highly effective in preventing diseases transmitted by nocturnally active mosquitoes.
What are 3 common vectors of infectious diseases?
Vector-borne diseases are infections transmitted by the bite of infected arthropod species, such as mosquitoes, ticks, triatomine bugs, sandflies, and blackflies.
What are the various methods of treatment of a disease?
If bacteria cause a disease, treatment with antibiotics usually kills the bacteria and ends the infection. Viral infections are usually treated with supportive therapies, like rest and increased fluid intake. Sometimes people benefit from antiviral medications like oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®).
What are the top 9 disease vectors?
Dengue, malaria and Chagas disease. Leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and yellow fever. Chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and West Nile virus. These are 10 vector-borne diseases carried by mosquitoes, ticks, flies and other vectors that put one of every two people in the Americas at risk.
How can vectors be controlled?
Insecticides, larvicides, rodenticides, Lethal ovitraps and repellents can be used to control vectors. For example, larvicides can be used in mosquito breeding zones; insecticides can be applied to house walls or bed nets, and use of personal repellents can reduce incidence of insect bites and thus infection.
What is vector control interventions?
The two main vector control interventions, LLINs and IRS, are used to target mosquitoes biting and resting indoor, but cannot prevent outdoor malaria transmission in the presence of efficient vectors that prefers to feed on human blood outdoors, or bite indoors and rest outdoors [11].
Are there vaccines for Vector-Borne Diseases?
YFV and JEV are the only vaccines on the WHO-approved list of vector-borne vaccines for use without caveat (Table 1). While vaccine candidates for the two most lethal mosquito-borne diseases, malaria and dengue (DENV), are not unequivocal successes.
What is the most common vector-borne disease?
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, with an estimated 300,000 infections occuring each year.
What is the most important method of preventing infectious disease?
Washing hands properly is one of the most important and effective ways of stopping the spread of infections and illnesses. Wash your hands thoroughly using water and plain soap.
What are vectors name two vector-borne diseases?
Vector-Borne Disease: Disease that results from an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding anthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Examples of vector-borne diseases include Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.
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What are vector borne diseases?
Vector-borne diseases. Vector-borne diseases, whose agents (parasites, viruses etc) are transmitted by insect vectors such as mosquitoes, flies and triatomine bugs, occur in more than 100 countries worldwide and affect about half of the world’s population. Social and environmental factors (including climate change) are key aspects affecting both ...
What is TDR in health?
TDR is investigating the effects of environmental and climate change on major vectors and vector-borne diseases. The long-term aim is to develop strategies for reducing vulnerability and increasing the resilience of populations at risk.
When will the WHO release new guidance for research on genetically modified mosquitoes?
18 May 2021. News release. WHO issues new guidance for research on genetically modified mosquitoes to fight malaria and other vector-borne diseases. 25 April 2021.
How is lyme disease transmitted?
Lyme disease (Lyme Borreliosis) is caused by Borrelia bacteria and is transmitted through the bite of infected deer ticks (of the Ixodes species). Many species of mammals can be infected and rodents and deer act as important reservoirs.
What is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne virus?
Unlike other mosquitoes, Aedes Aegypti, the main vector for dengue, bites during the day. Aedes albopictus, a secondary dengue vector, can survive in cooler temperate regions. There are 4 closely related serotypes of the virus that cause dengue and the lifelong immunity developed after infection.
How many people die from vector borne diseases?
Vector-borne diseases are illnesses caused by pathogens and parasites in human populations. Every year there are more than 1 billion cases and over 1 million deaths from vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and onchocerciasis, globally.
What is a vector?
Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Many of these vectors are bloodsucking insects, which ingest disease-producing microorganisms during a blood meal from an infected host (human or animal) and later inject it into a new host during their subsequent blood meal.
What are vector borne diseases?
Vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, plague, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can cause serious illness or even death. During the last 15 years, the number of vector-borne disease cases has increased dramatically as the ranges of vectors have expanded and the number of emerging pathogens have multiplied2. A recent CDC prioritization workshop identified the top eight priority zoonotic diseases of national concern for the United States. Three, including West Nile virus, plague, and Lyme disease, are vector- borne diseases3.
How many cases of tickborne disease in 2018?
In 2018, state and local health departments reported 47,743 cases of tickborne disease to CDC. This is the highest number of tickborne diseases ever reported to CDC4. Tickborne diseases: Nationally reported tickborne disease cases more than doubled from 2004 to 2018 and are now at an all-time high2.
Why is rapid diagnosis important?
Rapid, accurate diagnosis is critical to the timely, effective response to vector-borne disease outbreaks. Diagnosis of vector-borne diseases requires the patient to seek care and clinicians to be familiar with vector- borne diseases and order U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared laboratory tests.
What is the National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans
The National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans lays a foundation for the development and execution of a full National Strategy that details the activities needed to accomplish the articulated goals. This National Strategy was authorized by the Kay Hagan TICK Act of 2019 with oversight and coordination delegated to the Office of the Secretary in DHHS. The National Strategy shall include objectives, activities, performance metrics, as well as a coordination and monitoring plan. The plan will address the challenges outlined above and will be prepared by the federal entities accountable for the work, in consultation with stakeholders. To protect the nation and save lives, success depends on continued collaboration, support, leadership, and excellence in innovation and program implementation.
What is an invasive species?
BOX 3. INVASIVE SPECIES. Invasive species are harmful plants, animals, vectors, or pathogens newly introduced into an area, which bring with them negative impacts . Invasive species can introduce new pathogens or transmit existing pathogens in an area.
Why are new tools and products not always fit into existing regulatory structures?
This can result in delays and increased costs in bringing urgently needed novel diagnostic, prevention, and control products to the field. Flexibility in regulatory processes is needed.
