COLOMBO, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia has pledged to combat the dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka by partnering with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Australia's Monash University and Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo Wednesday night, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia's 500,000-Australian dollar (400,000-U.S. dollars) contribution to WHO will support the implementation of a comprehensive dengue prevention and control plan in Sri Lanka to enhance hospital triage and case management, cleaning, public awareness and surveillance systems.
"Working with Sri Lankan health authorities and other partners, the objective will be to reduce transmission of dengue," Bishop said.
Bishop also launched the Australian government's partnership between Monash University's 'Eliminate Dengue Program' and Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health to reduce the incidence of dengue in Sri Lanka.
Eliminate Dengue Program is pioneering the use of the Wolbachia bacteria to reduce rates of dengue infection. Wolbachia, which prevents the dengue virus being transmitted between people, has a similar effect on other viruses such as zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
There have been close to 100,000 people in Sri Lanka infected by the dengue virus this year and over 250 people killed, in the worst possible outbreak to hit the island country in recent years.
