Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, sand flies, and other vectors account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases and are responsible for more than 700 000 deaths annually. Malaria alone causes more than 400 000 deaths every year globally, most of them in Africa, with children under 5 years of age being especially vulnerable. Other vector-borne diseases are also of public health importance and affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, but are preventable through informed protective measures.
