China working to control vector-borne diseases

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2014-07-15

China is working to meet new challenges posed by vector-borne diseases, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said at a press conference on April 3 ahead of World Health Day, which falls on April 7.

The theme of World Health Day this year was “vector-borne diseases.” April is also Patriotic Health Month. The theme of Patriotic Health Month this year is “keep away from the harm of vectors and share a healthy life.” Vector-borne diseases in China mainly include plagues, epidemic hemorrhagic fever, malaria, dengue fever and epidemic encephalitis B.

Achievements in controlling vector-borne diseases After the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the Chinese government conducted the Patriotic Health Movement in various areas to lower the harm of rats, flies, mosquitoes and bugs.

Through these measures, the country gained significant improvement in controlling vector-borne diseases. Human plagues disappeared around 1958. In 2007, China was the first among 83 countries where lymphatic filariasis was endemic to eliminate the disease.

The number of people infected by encephalitis B or epidemic hemorrhagic fever has been kept under 10,000 in recent years as a result of immunization programs.

The prevalence of schistosomiasis has reached an all-time low. In 454 counties where schistosomiasis is epidemic, the transmission of the disease has been interrupted in 296 counties. The epidemic has been controlled in 34 of the 454 counties. Of 24 provinces where malaria is epidemic, more than 99 percent have seen the incidence of the disease drop to less than one in 10,000.

The country started a network to monitor key vectors nationwide in 2005. The network is covering 43 cities in 19 provinces. Many provinces have started their own monitor networks on vectors.

The density of vectors around the country has been dropping in recent years in general, the monitoring shows.

Challenges ahead Yet more and more frequent traveling due to globalization has increased the risks of the transmission of vector-borne diseases. The number of vectors intercepted by China’s customs has been increasing year by year.