Vector-borne diseases are a threat to human and animal health, animal welfare, food security and trade, and poverty alleviation. Distribution, transmission, outbreaks and spread of vector-borne diseases are not always well understood as there may be multiple hosts for a disease and climate and natural environment will impact the vectors. The impact of vector-borne diseases on human health, animal health and trade as well as the transboundary nature of these diseases means there is a need for regional coordination and cooperation to address the challenges.
The OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea, organized the OIE Regional Workshop on Vector Borne Disease in the Asia-Pacific Region on 10-11 September 2018 in Incheon, R.O. Korea. The workshop was attended by over 50 participants including representatives from Member Countries, experts from Australia, Indonesia, Japan and R.O. Korea, and officers from R.O. Korea government.
This workshop was the first of its kind focusing entirely on vector-borne diseases and was organized to address issues common across the region and share up-to-date information on the vector-borne diseases that are present and how they are being controlled. The participants gave presentations to share their knowledge and experience and discuss the priorities and challenges in dealing with vector-borne diseases. Experts from the human health sector were also involved in the workshop to strengthen the collaboration and information exchange on zoonotic and human vector-borne diseases, particularly emerging diseases, vector control and surveillance of both vectors and diseases. Participants actively discussed and made recommendations on the regional priorities and emphasized their support for collaboration with the human health sector such as organizing future workshops in partnership with human health counterparts and entomologists.
The Regional Workshop on Vector Borne Disease in the Asia-Pacific Region was completed with recommendations which will be finalized and shared in due course.
