GENEVA (CMC) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging the Caribbean to take steps to prevent vector-borne diseases.

WHO said that more than half the world’s population is at risk from diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, schistosomiasis, and yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails, and other vectors.

It said that every year, more than one billion people are infected and more than one million die from vector-borne diseases.

As World Health Day, April 7, approaches, WHO said it is highlighting the “serious and increasing threat of vector-borne diseases,” with the slogan “Small bite, big threat”.

The organisation also emphasises that these diseases are entirely preventable.

A newly published global brief on vector-borne diseases outlines steps that governments, community groups and families can all take to protect people from infection.

“A global health agenda that gives higher priority to vector control could save many lives and avert much suffering,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO director-general.

“Simple, cost-effective interventions, like insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying, have already saved millions of lives. No one in the 21st century should die from the bite of a mosquito, a sandfly, a blackfly, or a tick,” she added.

Dr Chan said vector-borne diseases affect the poorest populations, particularly where there is a lack of access to adequate housing, safe drinking water and sanitation.

She said malnourished people and those with weakened immunity are especially susceptible and that schistosomiasis, transmitted by water snails, is the most widespread of all vector-borne diseases, affecting almost 240 million people worldwide.

She said children living and playing near infested water are particularly vulnerable to this disease, which causes anaemia and a reduced ability to learn.

Chan said schistosomiasis can be controlled through regular mass treatment of at-risk groups with a safe, effective medicine, as well as improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Within the past two decades, many important vector-borne diseases have also re-emerged or spread to new parts of the world, the WHO said.

It said environmental changes, a massive increase in international travel and trade, changes in agricultural practices and rapid unplanned urbanisation are causing an increase in the number and spread of many vectors worldwide and making new groups of people, notably tourists and business travellers, vulnerable.

WHO said mosquito-borne dengue, for example, is now found in 100 countries, putting more than 2.5 billion people – over 40 per cent of the world’s population – at risk.

“Vector control remains the most important tool in preventing outbreaks of vector-borne diseases,” said Dr Lorenzo Savioli, director of WHO’s Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

“Increased funds and political commitment are needed to sustain existing vector-control tools, as well as medicines and diagnostic tools and to conduct urgently needed research,” he added.

WHO said it is urging a “renewed focus” on vector control and better provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene “key strategies outlined in WHO’s 2011 road map for the control, elimination and eradication of neglected tropical diseases, which sets targets for the period 2012-2020.