“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) at the launch of Dengue Day on Wednesday called on all sectors of society to unite in the battle against the disease, which has developed into a formidable threat to health in Asia, a press statement said,” Xinhua reports.

Indonesia this week is hosting the ASEAN Dengue Conference and other national initiatives to “help increase public and government awareness about the disease as well as promote commitment from all health and non-health stakeholders,” according to the news service (Fang, 6/14).

“With the theme, ‘Dengue is Everybody’s Concern, Causing Socio-economic Burden, but it’s Preventable,’ ASEAN Dengue Day was endorsed at the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting held in Singapore on July 22, 2010. Dengue has affected millions of people worldwide and Southeast Asia is becoming the most seriously affected region,” the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation writes (6/15).