2023-12-03 10:00:01
Save the Children Warns of Dengue Fever Spread at UN Climate Change Conference
Berlin/Dubai – Save the Children, a children’s rights organization, has issued a warning about the spread of dengue fever, as the number of infected people reaches a new high this year. According to Save the Children, at least 5,500 people have died in the 20 most affected countries, with almost five million people infected with the mosquito-borne disease, marking a 30 percent increase from the previous year.
The increase in dengue fever infections is attributed to the El Niño phenomenon, which has exacerbated the spread of the disease. “The UN Climate Change Conference is the right place to declare war on these diseases. We need strong health systems worldwide that can respond appropriately to the effects of the climate crisis,” says Patricia Kramarz, health expert at Save the Children Germany.
Additionally, Save the Children is calling on participants at the UN Climate Change Conference to prioritize the protection of children’s health and to recognize the immense health impacts of the climate crisis. The organization stresses the need for targeted measures in communities and calls for government support to combat the spread of dengue fever.
It is estimated that 1.3 billion children, more than one in two, live in countries where dengue fever outbreaks are common. Save the Children emphasizes that young children are particularly susceptible to the disease due to their weak immune systems.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of dengue cases has increased eightfold in just two decades, from about half a million in 2000 to more than 4.2 million in 2022. The Asia-Pacific region is particularly affected, with almost 70 percent of the world’s population threatened by dengue fever.
Save the Children has identified the countries with the most reported dengue fever deaths, including Bangladesh, Brazil, and the Philippines. The organization also provides treatment for patients with dengue fever as part of health projects and is committed to prevention efforts in collaboration with schools and communities.
Save the Children, which was founded in 1919, is the largest independent children’s rights organization in the world, active in around 120 countries. The organization advocates for children in wars, conflicts, and disasters, striving for a world that respects the rights of children and ensures their health and safety.
For more information, please contact:
Save the Children Deutschland eV Press Office – Ninja Taprogge
Tel.: +49 (0)30 – 27 59 59 79 280
Email: ninja.taprogge@savethechildren.de]
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