China launches first 'World Pest Day'

The first 'World Pest Day' was today launched in the Chinese capital with an aim to eventually reduce and eliminate pest-borne diseases.
The inaugural 'World Pest Day' is a milestone in the global pest management industry, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Initiated by the Chinese Pest Control Association (CPCA), international organisations and associations, it was proposed to increase awareness of pest-borne diseases and safeguard public health through scientific and professional pest control methods, it said.
More than 30 national and international organisations signed to support the initiative.
Aimed at eventual reduction and elimination of pest-borne diseases, the day was launched in Beijing, the report said.

CPCA President Xu Jianguo said the launching of 'World Pest Day' came at the right time as the number of mosquito, tick, and rodent-borne diseases like Zika virus, yellow fever, dengue fever and malaria were on the rise in recent years.

The severity of invasion had also increased due to a rapidly warming planet, accelerating urbanisation and booming trade and tourism, according to Xu.
Statistics from the World Health Organization show that more than one billion people worldwide are exposed to vector- borne diseases, and every year one million people lose their lives as a result, the report said.
The economic costs of these diseases amount to more than 17 per cent of the total costs of infectious diseases.

CPCA Vice President Huang Xiaoyun said that more people were expected to participate in the fight against the threat posed to public health worldwide.