Perspective on the Use of Innovative Surveillance Strategies Implemented for COVID-19 to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease Emergence in French Polynesia.

Maite Aubry,Van-Mai Cao-Lormeau

doi:10.3390/v14030460

Abstract

In French Polynesia, following the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in March 2020, several control measures were implemented to prevent virus spread, including a population lockdown and the interruption of international air traffic. SARS-CoV-2 local transmission rapidly stopped, and circulation of dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2, the only arboviruses being detected at that time, decreased. After the borders re-opened, a surveillance strategy consisting of the testing by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR of travelers entering French Polynesia, and isolating those with ongoing infection, was implemented. This strategy proved efficient to limit the introduction of SARS-CoV-2, and should be considered to prevent the importation of other pathogens, including mosquito-borne viruses, in geographically isolated areas such as French Polynesia.

Highlights

French French PolynesiaPolynesia is is aa FrenchFrench overseas overseas collectivity collectivity in in the the SoutheastSoutheast pacific, pacific, with with ≈280,000 inhabitants distributed on of the islands.Like in other tropical areas,≈280,000 inhabitants distributed on 74 of the 119 islands
Medical resources have been heavily mobilized for the diagnosis of COVID19, the surveillance of arbovirus infections has been maintained in French Polynesia
Since the introduction of arboviruses in French Polynesia is related to travelers, implementing surveillance measures on arrival could be an effective method to prevent the emergence of new pathogens

Summary

Introduction

280,000 inhabitants distributed on of the islands. ≈280,000 inhabitants distributed on 74 of the 119 islands. Like in other tropical areas, ararthropod-borne viruses(arboviruses). French Polynesia, thropod-borne viruses by mosquitoes mosquitoesof ofthe theAedes. The epidemiology of DENV was characterized by the circulation a (Figure 1) [2,3]. The epidemiology of DENV was characterized by the circulation of aof sinsingle serotype until when, for the first time, sustained co-circulation of different gle serotype until 2013 when, for the first time, sustained co-circulation of different DENV serotypes (DENV-1 and DENV-3), and cases of ZIKV infection, reported. DENV: dengue virus; ZIKV: Zika virus; CHIKV: chikungunya virus. Inter-epidemic periods are indicated by bright and pale colors, respectively. Polynesia to fight against the spread of COVID-19 and their impact on the epidemiology. Viruses 2022, 14, 460 of mosquito-borne diseases. We discuss the possibility of adapting the innovative strategies implemented for COVID-19 surveillance to prevent future arbovirus outbreaks

COVID-19 Control and Surveillance Measures

Impact of COVID-19 on Mosquito-Borne Disease Epidemiology

Conclusions