More than 200 scientists and researchers from the European Union (EU) and Southeast Asia met here on Monday to discuss new strategies to combat infectious diseases.

Participants of the two-day meeting will discuss topics such as virology, parasitology, transmission, diagnostics, and treatment and prevention strategies of vector-borne diseases in the region, global warming as well as approaches to containing diseases, according to statement issued by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

Vector-borne diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, sand-flies and rodents. Amongst others, they include dengue, malaria, chikungunya and encephalitis, which are a rising concern in developing and developed nations.

Vector-borne diseases put up to 80 percent of the world’s population at risk of infection, with approximately 500 million reported cases a year, according to the statement.

Speakers including Roy Anderson, epidemiologist and rector of Imperial College London, spoke on ways to manage and tackle the threats posed by fast-spreading and emerging infectious agents in an increasingly globalized world.

Chairman of A*STAR Lim Chuan Poh regarded the meeting as “timely.”

“The Influenza Type A H1N1 pandemic is with us and poised for a second wave. The world scientific community has generally responded well to the threat by sharing information, materials and working together”, he said. “I trust that these discussions will lead to new research collaborations and spawn innovations that will advance our knowledge of the diseases and enhance human healthcare delivery.”