The World Health Organization is pleased to announce the launch of the Global Arbovirus Initiative on 31 March 2022.
Arthropod-Borne viruses (Arboviruses) such as Dengue, Yellow fever, Chikungunya and Zika viruses are all current public health threats in tropical and sub-tropical areas where approximately 3.9 billion people live. The frequency and magnitude of outbreaks of these arboviruses, particularly those transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, are increasing globally, fueled by the convergence of ecologic, economic, and social factors.
The Global Arbovirus Initiative is an integrated strategic plan to tackle emerging and re-emerging arboviruses with epidemic and pandemic potential focusing on monitoring risk, pandemic prevention, preparedness, detection and response, and building a coalition of partners. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the World Health Emergencies Programme, the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, and the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department.
This integrated initiative will build a coalition of key partners to strengthen the coordination, communication, capacity-building, research, preparedness, and response necessary to mitigate the growing risk of epidemics due to these diseases.
Invited speakers:
Dr Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director Health Emergency Program, WHO
Dr Minghui Ren, Assistant Director General UCN/UCA, WHO
Dr Arnaldo Medeiros. Ministry of Health, Brazil
Dr Jeremy Farrar. Wellcome Trust
Dr John Reeder. Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases TDR, WHO
Dr Qasem Mohammed Buhaibeh, Minister of Public Health and Population, Yemen
If you have any questions, please email glai@who.int