Global and regional rise of diseases spread by mosquitoes
Monday 7 April 2014, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Noumea, New Caledonia –
The Pacific is currently experiencing a growing epidemic of diseases spread by mosquitoes. The global concern for these
diseases is highlighted today, World Health Day; this year’s theme is vector-borne diseases.
More than half the world’s population is at risk from diseases spread by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks or flies).
In the Pacific, 21 documented outbreaks of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes have been reported by 12 countries and
territories during the past 15 months: 15 outbreaks of dengue, three of chikungunya and three of Zika fever.
‘Thousands of people have already been affected by this epidemic wave in the region and we estimate that the risk of
further spread is high and could last for some years at the regional level,’ says Dr Yvan Souarès, Acting Director of
the Public Health Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
‘A number of factors support this assessment: the low immunity of the population; the mosquitoes capable of carrying the
virus being present in most parts of the region; and the high mobility of the population, especially through airline
travel, which facilitates the spread of the diseases.’
There are measures that governments and communities can take to reduce the risks and protect people from infection, such
as strengthening mosquito control, disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and prevention and response systems.
‘Considerable work has been done and progress has been made in these directions by countries and regional agencies over
the last decades under the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network, but a lot more needs to be done to face the
current unprecedented situation,’ added Dr Souarès.
‘We need to learn from our neighbouring regions, particularly the Indian Ocean region, that have had similar experiences
over the past ten years. For example, a large chikungunya outbreak spread from 2004 to 2007, infecting a third of the
population of La Reunion Island and costing more than € 60 million.’
‘We don’t want to see a similar crisis in our Pacific region. We will continue to support countries' efforts to respond
to the current situation as best we can.’
On an individual level, all Pacific Islanders can take measures to avoid contracting and spreading these diseases by
protecting themselves from mosquito bites while staying in or travelling to countries where the viruses are circulating.
A map showing the current epidemics and virus circulation in the region is attached to the media release and it is also
available on the SPC website.
Ends