Emerging arboviruses and public health challenges in Brazil.

Tamara Nunes Lima-Camara

doi:10.1590/s1518-8787.2016050006791

Abstract

ABSTRACTEnvironmental modification by anthropogenic actions, disordered urban growth, globalization of international exchange and climate change are some factors that help the emergence and dissemination of human infectious diseases transmitted by vectors. This review discusses the recent entry of three arboviruses in Brazil: Chikungunya, West Nile, and Zika virus, focusing on the challenges for the Country’s public health. The Brazilian population is exposed to infections caused by these three arboviruses widely distributed on the national territory and associated with humans. Without effective vaccine and specific treatment, the maintainance and integration of a continuos entomological and epidemiological surveillance are important so we can set methods to control and prevent these arboviruses in the Country.

Highlights

Infectious diseases have some peculiarities that distinguish them from other human diseases, such as the unpredictable and explosive character on a global level, transmissibility, close relationship with both the environment and human behavior, and the ability to be prevented and eradicated[10]
Over the last 10 years, we have seen the emergence of some diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, especially arboviruses such as Chikungunya, West Nile, and Zika virus, in different countries of the Americas (Figure A and B)
In addition to the interference and modification of ecosystems by human action, other factors are related to the emergence of arboviruses in those countries, such as disordered urban growth and processes of globalization and expansion of international exchange, as well as climatic changes[16]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Infectious diseases have some peculiarities that distinguish them from other human diseases, such as the unpredictable and explosive character on a global level, transmissibility, close relationship with both the environment and human behavior, and the ability to be prevented and eradicated[10]. The population moves voluntarily for work, study or leisure, or involuntarily, as refugees, after a natural disaster or during a war in their country. These population movements increase the risk of travellers to carry pathogens not yet detected in other areas, or even new serotypes or strains more resistant to a particular virus already known, causing the emergence or reemergence of a disease[1]. Global temperature increase affects the mosquito vectors by reducing the development time of the larvae and, increasing rapidly the population of adults It decreases the extrinsic incubation period, i.e., the time for the virus to reach the mosquito’s

West Nile virus Chikungunya virus Zikavirus

Chikungunya virus

Zika virus

Findings

Public health challenges in Brazil