(This story originally appeared in on Feb 18, 2016)

NEW DELHI: The steep rise in socio-economic burden due to vector-borne diseases like dengue malaria , chikungunya, and Zika has prompted the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) to ask member countries, including India, to focus on mosquito control.Estimates of the UN agency show incidence of dengue alone has risen 30-fold worldwide over the last few decades resulting in a huge socio-economic burden. While countries have been administrating vaccines and medicines to control mortality, the cost of morbidity is substantial enough for governments across the globe to take steps for mosquito control, WHO said.In India, the socio-economic burden due to malaria alone is pegged at around $1.94 billion (Rs 11640 crore) with 95% of the population living in malaria-endemic areas. Besides, the rising dengue cases account for over $1 billion (nearly Rs 6000 crore) of annual economic costs (including direct and indirect costs in terms of loss of production and medical costs).Emphasising on the need to step up personal and population-wise measures for mosquito control as the best immediate line of defence, WHO said, “As noted, well-implemented mosquito control can effectively reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses, including Zika.”The agency also recommended integrated approaches to tackle all life stages of mosquitos and fully engage communities. It said although fogging to kill adult mosquitoes provides the most visible evidence that a government is taking action, WHO stresses that the elimination of mosquito breeding sites is the most effective intervention.Doctors and medical experts also support a mosquito eradication programme. “There is a serious degree of concern about the rising burden of vector-borne diseases and the significant economic cost attached to these diseases which happen every year. Instead of dealing with such situations each year, the government must build national strategies and campaign to eradicate mosquitoes – the root cause and carriers of these diseases,” says Dr Anupam Sibal , group medical director, Apollo Hospitals Given the seriousness of these vector-borne diseases and in the wake of rising cases of dengue and Zika across the globe, a WHO vector-control advisory group has evaluated some newer tools, including a genetically modified prototype mosquito submitted for WHO review. For genetically modified mosquitoes, the WHO Advisory Group has recommended further field trials and risk assessment to evaluate the impact on disease transmission.The agency has asked all its member countries to boost the use of both old and new approaches to mosquito control as the most immediate line of defence against these diseases.