A new threat at our doorstep: consequences of dengue dispersal in a constantly changing world

• Autor(a) principal: Soares Parreira, Ricardo Manuel
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Marques da Silva de Atouguia, Jorge Luís, Sousa, Carla Alexandra
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25761/anaisihmt.190

Dengue virus (DENV) is the mosquito-borne arbovirus with the widest impact on human health. Although its dispersal is partially conditioned by the environmental constraints that limit the distribution of its main vector (Aedes aegypti), DENV has been relentlessly taking over the planet, especially in the last decades. Despite the fact that it is mainly associated with the tropical and subtropical regions, it affects up to 1/3 of the world population. In the absence of any prophylactic vaccine or specific therapeutics, vector control remains the best alternative to restrain its circulation. However, most viral infections are either clinically silent, or expressed as a non-specific fever syndrome. Therefore, viral activity may remain undetected. Moreover, the establishment of thriving vector populations in periurban environments brings humans and viruses closer together, and opens the possibility for the occurrence of unexpected outbreaks. Such was the case of Madeira in 2012-2013. In addition to its impact on the health of the local population, health services and economy, this outbreak revealed how difficult it may be to control the circulations of pathogenic arboviruses, especially taking into considerations that Europe is already partially colonized by another DENV vector (Aedes albopictus).