Abstract
Venezuela’s tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hyperinflation rates now exceed 45,000%, and Venezuela’s health system is in free fall. The country is experiencing a massive exodus of biomedical scientists and qualified healthcare professionals. Reemergence of arthropod-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases has sparked serious epidemics that also affect neighboring countries. In this article, we discuss the ongoing epidemics of measles and diphtheria in Venezuela and their disproportionate impact on indigenous populations. We also discuss the potential for reemergence of poliomyelitis and conclude that action to halt the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases within Venezuela is a matter of urgency for the country and the region. We further provide specific recommendations for addressing this crisis.
Highlights
Venezuela’s tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis
Since 2017, measles has reemerged in Venezuela, within vulnerable indigenous populations, and has subsequently reached neighboring countries (Figure 1, panel A) [16]
Genotyping of the measles virus isolated from patients from Venezuela in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru confirmed that the strains were genotype D8, lineage MVi/Hulu Langat.MYS/26.11 [16]
Summary
Venezuela’s tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. From week 26 of 2017 through week 43 of 2018, a total of 7,524 suspected cases were reported, of which 6,252 have been confirmed (727 in 2017 and 5,525 in 2018); 75 deaths were attributed to measles, most of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, Venezuela them in the Amazon and Orinoco River Delta regions of the country.
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