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Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the dengue virus, which is mainly transmitted through mosquito bites. The disease often manifests as fever, headache, muscle aches, rashes, and in severe cases, bleeding, shock, and even death. At present, there is no specific treatment, and prevention mainly relies on mosquito vector control and personal protection.
According to the latest data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the number of dengue fever cases in Brazil in 2024 has exceeded 3.9 million and 1,888 deaths have occurred, a record high. Faced with this dire situation, Brazil has responded to dengue fever using biological means and has set up a "mosquito factory" in Rio de Janeiro.
In this "mosquito factory", mosquitoes carrying a special type of bacteria are bred to stop the spread of viruses such as dengue fever. Every year, about 500 million mosquitoes carrying specific bacteria can be produced here, which are then released into the natural environment to gradually replace the mosquitoes carrying the virus through natural reproduction.
These mosquitoes that carry specific bacteria carry a bacterium called Wolbachia that is found in 60% of insects in nature. Wolbachia can be genetically transmitted rapidly in mosquito populations, thereby reducing the number of vectors of mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunia, etc. People with dengue fever are not infected by mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia. Moreover, Wolbachia does not infect humans and mammals, is inexpensive, and can displace regional mosquito populations for a short period of time.
In fact, this approach has already paid off in some cities in Brazil. Brazil was the first to launch Wolbachia mosquitoes in Niterói, Rio State, in 2015, and by 2021 dengue cases had dropped by 70%, Chikungunia and Zika cases by 60% and 40%, respectively, and by 2023 dengue cases had dropped by 90%.
Currently, Brazil plans to expand the release of Wolbachia mosquitoes, with the goal of covering one-third of the country's population within 10 years.
Brazil has achieved some success in dealing with dengue outbreaks, and the use of biological means to control the spread of dengue fever can not only effectively reduce the spread of dengue fever and other viruses, but also provide valuable experience and reference for other countries when dealing with similar infectious disease outbreaks. It also provides some enlightenment for the public health industry in mainland China. On the mainland, similar means of biological control can also be considered and adopted.
Looking back at the public health industry in mainland China:
The number of visits to medical and health institutions fluctuated and increased
According to the data on the diagnosis and treatment of medical and health institutions across the country from 2015 to 2023, the number of patients seeking medical treatment has shown a fluctuating growth trend in recent years. As of 2023, the total number of visits to medical and health institutions nationwide will reach 9.56 billion, with an average of 6.8 visits per person.
The number of medical and health institutions is increasing year by year
According to the data of the National Health Commission, the number of medical and health institutions in mainland China has generally maintained a steady and rising trend from 2018 to 2023. In 2018, the number of health care facilities increased from 1 million to 1.271 million. Among them, the number of hospitals nationwide increased from 33,000 in 2018 to 39,000 in 2023, an increase of nearly 6,000, and the number of community health service centers increased from 35,000 in 2018 to 37,000 in 2023, an increase of about 2,000.
Guangdong Province's public budget expenditure on medical and health care
From 2017 to 2021, the public budget expenditure on medical and health care in Guangdong Province increased year by year, reaching 183.933 billion yuan in 2021. However, from the perspective of growth rate, the growth rate of medical and health public budget expenditure in Guangdong Province in 2020 and 2021 is lower than the average growth rate of medical and health public budget expenditure in all provinces and cities across the country, and the growth rate is at the middle and lower reaches of all provinces in the country.
With the development of science and technology and the accumulation of experience, the mainland has made remarkable achievements in disease prevention and control, medical and health services, and environmental sanitation. In the future, we can further strengthen international cooperation, introduce advanced technology and experience, and promote the improvement of health policies, public health infrastructure and medical services, so as to cope with new disease challenges, improve national health, and achieve the goal of universal health.
Prospective Economist APP Information Group
For more research and analysis of this industry, please refer to the "Analysis Report on the Development Prospect and Investment Planning of Guangdong Public Health Emergency Industry" by Qianzhan Industry Research Institute
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