5 April 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY

Rise of dengue, zika, chikungunya outbreaks and impact of climate change 

Press Conference 5 April at 14:00 CEST
UN Palais Geneva

The incidence of infections caused by arboviruses, such as denge, Zika and chingungunya, has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. About half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year.

Today, WHO experts will provide an update on the global situation of arboviruses. These diseases, that spread from mosquitoes to people, are causing an increasing number of outbreaks worldwide, with climate change, deforestation and urbanization being some of the major risk factors, that allow mosquitoes to adapt better to new environments and spread the risk of infection geographically further, including to the European region.

All populations in areas where the mosquito vectors are present are at risk, but the impact is greatest among the most vulnerable people, for which the arboviral disease programs do not have enough resources to respond to outbreaks. That is why WHO launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative last year, which aims at tackling emerging and re-emerging arboviruses with epidemic and pandemic potential focusing on monitoring risk, pandemic prevention, preparedness, detection and response, and building a coalition of partners.

Speakers:

• Dr Raman VELAYUDHAN, Unit Head, Global Program on control of Neglected Tropical Diseases coordinating dengue and arbovirus initiative
• Dr Diana ROJAS ALVAREZ, Technical Lead, Zika and chikungunya and co-Lead of the Global arbovirus initiative

When:
     Wednesday, 05 April 2023 at 14:00hrs/2 p.m. CEST

Place:

• In person in Room B-128 at the UN Palais Geneva (only for UN accredited journalists)
• The briefing can be followed live at 14:00hrs CEST onUN Web TV, and can also be revisited later on the same platform.

./.

Media contacts:

[email protected]

You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO mail list.
If you have been forwarded this update you can click here to subscribe.
Journalists may send feedback to WHO Media Team