South Asia vulnerable to Zika, Ebola-Experts

14 April 2017 07:52 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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South Asian nations are vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola, and their level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health, The Hindustan Times reported quoting a new health analysis.

An analysis as part of a collection of 12 analyses on health in South Asia published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that inadequate surveillance and uneven health system capacity may accelerate the spread of the emerging infectious diseases in the region. The region is already burdened by diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and malaria.

“Examining the vulnerability to emerging and growing infectious disease threats and the capacity to respond to outbreaks, the analysis finds the level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health,” it said.

The analysis also pointed out that although sporadic cases of dengue infection were seen in many South Asian countries in the 1960s, regular epidemics only occurred in the early 1990s in India and Sri Lanka.

“In India and Sri Lanka, by around 40 years of age 90-95% of adults have been infected with the dengue virus, while 41% have been infected with chikungunya,” the analysis found.

It said while noting that anthrax is endemic in large parts of South Asia, that in the border areas of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, poor vaccination and surveillance have been accompanied by increasing anthrax cases, which prompted Bangladesh to announce a red alert in 2010.

Noting that rabies remains endemic in eight countries in South East Asia, with 1.4 billion people at risk, the authors in the analysis said that the region contributes about 45% of global rabies deaths, while the rhetoric on elimination continues to grow.

“Brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, and a range of food-borne diseases contribute to the morbidity and mortality attributable to zoonotic infections but are struggling to gain the attention of policymakers in the subcontinent, despite it resulting in 150 million illnesses, 175,000 deaths, and 12 million disability-adjusted life years,” the analysis said.

The analysis found that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus A/H5N1, which was introduced to the subcontinent in 2005 through wild birds, has since become endemic across large parts of northeast India and Bangladesh, across porous international borders.

South Asia is defined by the World Bank as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is home to a quarter of the world’s population.(Hindustan Times)

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Comments - 13

Kumar Friday, 14 April 2017 08:51 AM

We are watching GMOA vs SAITM warfare and wasting the time.If a major virus starts to spread all these doctors would be powerless and totally out of their depth.Only then we would realise the importance of the Scientists.

Roaring Creek Friday, 14 April 2017 09:24 AM

Sri Lanka lacks basic education on hygiene and social etiquette. As such any contiguous disease would spread with ease. The health authority should start educating the public from now. Start with clean public toilets and education our people on how how to use them.

Neo Friday, 14 April 2017 09:31 AM

We must switch over to the use of glass and minimize the use of plastic and polythene. All know the difficulty of disposing plastic and use it recklessly knowing very well it is injurious to mankind and animals causing pollution to the environment and hold good for breeding grounds for mosquitoes that are a menace to society and the root cause of all mosquito borne diseases. Make people aware with major campaigns and organise shramadanas. via DM Android App

John Friday, 14 April 2017 10:00 AM

Your comments are outdated,this is 21st centuary.

Good Idea Friday, 14 April 2017 10:55 AM

Good Idea Sir, Go to your home and see How Many Plastic Bags are there . And where you dumb your garbage Please..

Shelly. Friday, 14 April 2017 11:25 AM

You only can stop spreading virus by asking assistance from superhuman force and living with envirnment in pure heart. via DM Android App

Perumal Friday, 14 April 2017 12:10 PM

Are you a member of GMOA?

Dan Friday, 14 April 2017 12:17 PM

Kumar,in Sri Lanka they worship the doctors and they don't have Scientists.

Justica USA... Friday, 14 April 2017 02:54 PM

America has a habit of spreading virus in poor countries...they did it in Africa and south America....then they test the meds while many die....corporate America sucks ..there was a study done on the fruit Anodha..(sour sop) Google it....this fruit is found in the amozon n very cheap...Also found in SL....the US authorities shelved the research coz it was going to affect producers of cancer drugs....what a shame....now they trying to spread Ebola n Zika mostly found in South America... via DM Android App

Rose Writes Friday, 14 April 2017 08:10 PM

I had four questions for the CDC and I shared these with others (including doctors, scientists, and public health experts). Here is just one:Why has the CDC ignored the evidence by Dr. Ayres (submitted over a year ago), and confirmed by Drs. Hunter, Guedes, Guo et al., and just recently, Evans et al. that point to Culex as vectors of Zika?Culex bite at night, so mosquito bed nets at night would be crucial information for new and expectant mothers to know about.The whole truth: No infected mosquitoes were collected from Yap States and French Polynesia during their Zika outbreaks. They simply ASSUMED that Aedes species were vectors, although they never fulfilled the criteria.And, I publicly posted the CDC's response on Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/6grLiwzHqFt

seqi Friday, 14 April 2017 08:34 PM

how about there being a national policy for rubbish collection and disposal. Still there is no efficient plan of action.... via DM Android App

seqi Friday, 14 April 2017 09:20 PM

Is our government this subhuman force via DM Android App

Rogers Friday, 14 April 2017 11:40 PM

Unfortunately the head of the CDC is a medical doctor and not a Scientist. We need Scientists!!!!

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South Asia vulnerable to Zika, Ebola-Experts

Comments - 13

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