Vector-borne diseases, i.e. diseases that are transmitted via blood-feeding insects such as mosquitos, ticks and fleas, have been increasing dramatically in recent years, and international trade is an important factor.
Vector-borne diseases have been increasing at an alarming rate in the last 30 years, as stated in the article “Vector-transmitted diseases. A new challenge for public health surveillance systems”.
The main vector-borne human diseases include malaria, dengue fever, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, chikungunya, Zika virus disease and yellow fever.
According to the World Health Organization, these diseases account for around 17% of all infectious diseases worldwide and cause more than 700,000 deaths each year.
These diseases are primarily associated with Third World populations in tropical areas, but climate change on our planet has now enabled these pests to successfully spread to temperate regions.
Drawing up a vector control programme to address the impact of vector-borne diseases is therefore urgent.
The WHO has set in motion the Global Vector Control Response 2017-2030, which offers strategies that countries can follow for efficient, sustainable vector control with the aim of preventing disease and responding to outbreaks.
As mentioned above, the increase in international trade is one of the causes of vector displacement.
The International Plant Protection Convention is working in this direction to develop international standards for handling plants and horticulture products in international trade.
There is currently no specific treatment for these vector-borne diseases.