Malaria and dengue remain serious threats in tropical regions, including Indonesia and Malaysia. Deforestation and forest conversion have created new habitats for mosquito vectors, as reflected in the high incidence of dengue infections among forest-edge communities in both countries. This situation underscores the urgent need for emergency preparedness and the development of an adaptive surveillance system that responds to environmental changes, technological advances, and human–animal interactions.
The Center for Tropical Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, organized a joint webinar titled “Combating Malaria and Dengue: Innovations and Strategies” on Wednesday (Sep. 17), held online.
Vice Dean of FK-KMK UGM, Professor Lina Choridah, expressed her appreciation for this cross-country collaboration. According to her, such cooperation provides a platform for sharing best practices in the control of malaria and dengue.
“I believe this can serve as a forum to present new strategies and technologies in managing mosquito-borne diseases,” she said.
A representative from WHO Indonesia, Dr. Ajib Diptyanusa, highlighted three mosquito-borne diseases that pose serious threats to human lives: vector-borne diseases (VBDs), malaria, and dengue. These mosquitoes thrive in tropical and subtropical regions, with malaria being one of the most significant, largely affecting children.
“Southeast Asia has the highest malaria transmission, and Indonesia ranks 32nd globally in terms of malaria cases,” he explained.
Dr. Diptyanusa further emphasized that dengue is no longer confined to tropical and subtropical countries but has now become a global health threat.
“Its spread is driven by the proliferation of vectors and climate change,” he added.
From the Faculty of Medicine at USU, Dr. Inke Nadia Diniyanti Lubis explained that malaria cannot be cured, but it can be prevented. Preventive efforts include insecticide spraying, chemoprevention, prompt diagnosis, Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT), and vaccination.
“The goal of malaria control and prevention is to stop people from becoming infected, and for those who are infected, to ensure they receive appropriate treatment promptly,” she explained.
Dr. Lubis also noted that malaria incidence in Indonesia has stagnated over the past ten years, with zoonotic malaria transmitted from non-human primates posing additional challenges. These conditions hinder Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries in achieving the target of malaria elimination by 2030.
The webinar organized by the UGM Center for Tropical Medicine also discussed dengue control innovations, including the implementation of Wolbachia technology in Yogyakarta, which has shown promise as a new strategy to reduce dengue transmission in Indonesia. In line with this, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has expanded its implementation to five cities since 2023.
Participants also learned about the potential use of Streptomyces as a natural bio-insecticide from Universiti Malaya, as well as indications of nighttime dengue transmission presented by representatives of the Ministry of Health.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik