www.elitecme.com | 2019 | INFECTIOUS DISEASE, DISASTER PLANNING & WOUND CARE 17 |  VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES  | 2017-2030 was approved by the World Health Organization. The goal of GVCR is to provide guidance and strengthening of vector control in order to prevent these diseases, as well as treat outbreaks when they occur. This is a large undertaking, and as such, current programs had to be re-evaluated. According to the World Health Organization, “…this will support implementation of a comprehensive approach to vector control that will enable the achievement of disease-specific national and global goals…” A large undertaking, no doubt. To do this, evidence-based practice will be applied while also providing training on the management, diag- nosis and control of specific vector-borne diseases. In addition, for vec- tor-borne diseases that can be prevented by sanitation and clean water, the World Health Organization is working with various government sectors to assist. HEALTH INSURANCE FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES In countries where vector-borne diseases are increasingly common, health insurance, or “health cover” is becoming a trend. According to a story in The Times of India, a policy can be purchased from Bajaj Allianz General Insurance that targets seven specific vec- tor-borne diseases: “…dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Kala Azar, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis, and Zika virus.” The policy also covers fleas, sand flies, and flies. The policies are also useful during international travel, covering 37 different countries. In addition, policies can be purchased for families up to six members. THIRTEENTH GENERAL PROGRAMME OF WORK 2019-2023 Very recently, the World Health Organization announced ten health issues that are requiring focus in 2019. This caused the World Health Organization to create the Thirteenth General Programme of Work, a strategic plan that aims to increase access to healthcare, protect from health emergencies, and improve health and well-being over the next five years. Several of these issues are vector-borne diseases: Air pollution and climate change. Although not directly a vec- tor-borne disease, addressing climate change improves disease associ- ated with vector-borne disease. We’ve seen an uptick in vector-borne disease with climate change; for example, new populations are expe- riencing Lyme disease as with the warming climate, vectors that carry Lyme are traveling north. Ebola virus. Similar to vector-borne diseases, Ebola virus is actually a zoonotic virus. This means it is transmitted by animal-to-human con- tact. A multi-country response to the Ebola outbreak is needed. Dengue. Dengue is often asymptomatic, making it exceptionally terrifying. Experts believe that asymptomatic dengue is 80 percent as infectious as symptomatic dengue, thus it is considered a “silent transmission.” THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE It’s no secret that climate change is occurring. We’re in the throes of attempting to thwart it, but it has many implications. One of these implications? An increase in vector-borne diseases. Studies show that tropical locations are inching further north. According to The Weather Network, “The tropics have been widen- ing at an average rate of approximately 0.2 degrees latitude, or about 27 kilometres per decade in both hemispheres…” This may not seem like a large change, but this has affected the types of animals – and insects – that live in these locations. Many vectors thrive in warmth and humidity. With the tropics increasing, we’re seeing more vector-borne disease. If temperatures continue to increase, we may see even more vector-borne diseases. For example, if global temperatures rise by two to three degrees Celsius, the people at risk for malaria would increase by three to five percent – upwards of tens of millions of people. Fortunately, many of these diseases are treatable and curable – but they are widespread; this is why the World Health Organization has targeted vector-borne diseases (and climate change in general) as two of their many goals. THE BOTTOM LINE… As our global temperature increases, so does our risk of vector-borne diseases. The World Health Organization is taking proactive measures to protect the global population. n Krystina is a 30-something RN, BSN, CDE who has worked in a vari- ety of nursing disciplines, from telemetry to allergy/immunotherapy to most recently, diabetes education. She is also a writer and has enjoyed expanding her writing career over the past several years. She balances her careers as a nurse and a writer with being a wife and a mother. She has a four year old son who is an inquisitive, energetic little guy who is up for anything. She also enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, baking, and yoga (both practicing and teaching). RESOURCES Healio. (2019, January 18). WHO announces 10 threats to global health in 2019. Retrieved from https://www. healio.com/infectious-disease/antimicrobials/news/ online/%7Bb1234d9f-90fb-467c-8b77-333d757af5e4%7D/ who-announces-10-threats-to-global-health-in-2019 O’Malley, Isabella. (2018, September 21). How vector borne diseases are spreading with climate change. Retrieved from https://www.the- weathernetwork.com/news/articles/how-vector-borne-diseases-are- thriving-with-climate-change/112766 Times of India. (2019, January 16). Health cover for only vector-borne diseases. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ india-business/health-cover-for-only-vector-borne-diseases/article- show/67549470.cms World Health Organization. (2017, October 31). Vector-borne diseases. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ vector-borne-diseases