What is it about?
Dengue is one of the fastest growing vector-borne diseases in the world. Currently, vaccines are experimental and not very effective, so prevention depends on controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Health promotion campaigns designed to encourage people to reduce mosquito breeding sites have limited effect. In addition, the heterogeneity of territories that have dengue becomes a major challenge for the epidemiological surveillance of the disease. Brazil has a territory of continental dimensions, and a single standardized surveillance is not very effective for monitoring this arbovirus.
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Why is it important?
Classifying the types of dengue dynamics based on the characteristics of the epidemiological cycle in each location has the potential to increase the accuracy of surveillance and control strategies. In our study, we were able to classify areas according to different dengue transmission profiles, ranging from episodic transmission to persistent transmission. These results may provide tools to guide actions aimed at achieving the World Health Organization's goals of eliminating neglected tropical diseases in countries with the virus.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a turning point for me. My initial understanding of the dynamics of dengue in different places and their differences, made me begin to realize that each place needs a special look at diseases in general. What affects one municipality in a certain way, may not happen to another. Looking at the dynamics of this, plotted in the form of maps and graphs, made me fascinated with this study and I want to go deeper.
Iasmim Ferreira de Almeida
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Arouca (ENSP/FIOCRUZ)
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: How heterogeneous is the dengue transmission profile in Brazil? A study in six Brazilian states, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, September 2022, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010746.
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