SINGAPORE: Dengue cases face a rising trend worldwide and hopefully the upcoming Asia-Pacific Dengue Strategic Plan will help countries tackle the disease.

Some 80 international officials from various environment and health ministries are here for a five-day meeting to finalise the plan. The plan's objectives include strengthening collaboration to control dengue and sharing resources in this area.

It will also provide a framework for countries such as Thailand and Malaysia to develop their own anti-dengue programmes.

Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said: "Dengue does not respect international boundaries. As such, dengue control efforts cannot be limited to one country or a few countries and must be co-ordinated as a regional endeavour in order to be truly effective.

"Having a comprehensive regional dengue strategic plan is certainly a big step in the right direction towards the region's collective battle against dengue."

This is crucial because many governments today neglect the dengue problem.

Dr John Ehrenberg, Regional Adviser, Western Pacific Region, World Health Organisation, said: "They are very much preoccupied with diseases that have high mortality rates. Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/Aids are diseases that attract a lot of attention, and so they tend to worry about dengue only when you have an outbreak.

"Our goal is really to raise the level of awareness towards the problem of dengue and be able to pay attention between outbreaks, not just during the outbreaks."

The global dengue incidence has increased 30-fold in the last 50 years. Today, dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries, where up to three billion people are at risk.

Singapore is also affected, registering 1,616 dengue cases in the first four months of this year, an increase of 421 cases from 1,195 cases in the same period last year.

Khoo Seow Poh, Director-General of Public Health, National Environment Agency, said: "Singaporeans are generally quite aware of what's dengue and they also know how to go about preventing mosquito breeding in their homes.

"But the question is how to make it a habit, make sure they do it on a routine basis, especially now (that) the weather is turning warmer. So there's a need for every household to be vigilant and do their part in keeping their homes free of mosquito."

In the fight against dengue, Singapore plans to host a regional training workshop here at the end of this year. This will allow international experts to come together and share experiences on tackling the disease.

Singapore will also share its knowledge in dengue prevention - such as in the area of surveillance and community mobilisation. - CNA/vm