Hiv, Vih, Aids, Sida, And Pwas

A souvenir sheet of stamps drawn by youngsters gives an overview of dengue fever in Wallis and Futuna, 2004. Outbreaks of the fever occur regularly on the islands and the population is constantly being reminded to keep mosquitoes in check by eliminating puddles/containers of stagnant water.

One of the Wallis and Futuna stamps shows particularly grim mosquitoes and the tin can represents the small containers in which water can collect - ideal for mosquito development. Getting properly rid of garbage and small unsanitary containers of water reduced mosquito populations everywhere that people heeded the rules.

Dubai
20th December 1963
Malaria Eradication





designed - A Tcheterian
printed - Helio-Electronic Press

Saudi Arabia
7th May 1962
Malaria Eradication




printed - Dar al-Asfahani, Jeddah

Sharjah
8th August 1963
Malaria Eradication

Kuwait
1st August 1962
Malaria Eradication


printed - Survey Dept, Cairo

Lebanon
2nd July 1962
Malaria Eradication



designed - Paul Koroleff
Printed - Imp J. Saikali

Syrian Arab Republic
7th April 1962
Malaria Eradication


designed - W. Eichel

Another stamp from the Wallis and Futuna sheet shows a sleeping child protected by netting. The children's drawings refer to dengue fever, but the same applies to malaria. The expression on the mosquitoes' faces is just wonderful.

(Hi Outremer, Your swarm is quite impressive! And malaria is no longer a threat in those countries. K.)

Another detail of the souvenir sheet shows a desperate child warding off mosquitoes of all colors. "Forty percent of the world's population, about 3 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue. Dengue is often a leading cause of illness in areas with risk." CDC

The fourth stamp in the souvenir sheet features an over-sized mosquito and a very sad youngster. The dengue virus comes in several varieties and being infected more than once may lead to the particularly dangerous hemorrhagic form of the disease. Table of WHO, 2007.

There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Medical care can save lives. At present, the only method to control or prevent transmission is to combat vector mosquitoes. Vaccines have been under development since the 1940's but because the virus is so diverse, long term protection is still not a sure thing. A natural hunter of mosquitoes, the wasp Polybia scutellaris deserves to be on a stamp. It loves mosquitoes for breakfast, lunch and supper!

And yet another virus carried by Aedes mosquitoes: Zika. This virus was first discovered in 1947 in a monkey of the Zika forest in Uganda. It became well known in 2016 when cases were discovered in South America because children with grave developmental abnormalities of the central nervous system were born. Souvenir sheet, most likely issued for Niger by an agency, shows anti-mosquito efforts and an infected infant. The two virus particles are not quite accurate - they shouldn't have a corona.

Another souvenir sheet featuring the mosquito, the Zika virus and help for the vulnerable from the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. A vaccine is being developed.

Syria
1st June 2011
30th Anniv of AIDS Prevention Campaign