AFRICAN countries have been tasked to use integrated approaches against mosquito-transmitted diseases now on the rise across the continent.

Raman Velayudhan, the departmental head for veterinary public health, vector control and environment unit for the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programme for the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued this appeal in Dar es Salaam on Monday at an international conference on advances in surveillance and control methods for aedes-transmitted diseases.

He emphasised on the need to enhance scientific and technical knowledge on the surveillance and control of mosquito vectors of emerging arboviruses, described in an online entry as infections caused by a group of viruses spread to people by the bite of infected arthropods (insects) such as mosquitoes and ticks.

“These infections usually occur during warm weather months when mosquitoes and ticks are active,” the entry affirms, while the WHO executive said that a total of 61,073 cases and 71 deaths were reported from 18 countries from the diseases this year, up to end of July

The diseases are dengue, yellow fever and zika, all vector-borne diseases, where control measures are vital to combat the diseases, he said, highlighting that the largest number of cases were recorded in Burkina Faso, accounting for 25,086 cases during the past half year.

Seychelles and Mauritius reported high concentrations of vectors, to which the WHO affirmed the need for strengthening innovation and integrated approaches to early detection, prevention, response and control of Aedes-mosquito transmitted viruses.

Empowering communities to support surveillance, prevention and sustained vector control while advancing innovation for diagnostics, medical interventions and vector control was emphasised by the health sector stakeholders.

Dr Yeromin Mlacha, a researcher with the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) department of environmental health and ecological science said that dengue, in particular, is now endemic in more than 120 countries.

Mosquitoes have invaded different countries through human activities and transportation with arboviral diseases moving to other places at an unprecedented pace, she said.

Over the past few decades, diseases transmitted by the Aedes mosquito have spread rapidly, with the relationship between the urban environment and mosquito-borne diseases remaining inadequately explored, she stated.

“We need to enhance knowledge on the relationship between the physical environment and mosquito-borne diseases,” she said, pointing at the need to integrate the use of innovative vector control tools.

 Dr Honorati Masanja, the IHI executive director, said that the conference bringing together researchers, policy makers, scientists and public health administrators was expected to advance scientific understanding on the issues.

This demands translating the findings into actionable solutions to protect and improve health and wellbeing, he said, noting that for three days the scientists will share knowledge, experience and technology, forging collaboration initiatives to enhance institutional capacity against vector transmitted diseases.

Funded by the European Union at the tune of 4.1bn/-, IHI supports 22 institutions conducting research, building capacity to come up with innovative ways to fight the diseases.

Recent WHO statistics show that over half of the global   population are at risk of mosquito’s borne diseases and other related vector-borne diseases tending to grow exponentially due to earth warming, he added.