Prevention and control of Aedes transmitted infections in the post-pandemic scenario of COVID-19: challenges and opportunities for the region of the Americas

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Hector Gomez Dantes, National Institute of Public Health; Pablo Manrique-Saide, Emory University; Gonzalo Vazquez Prokopec, Emory University; Fabian Correa Morales, Ministry of Health; Joao Bosco Siqueira Jr, Universidade Federal de Goiás; Fabiano Pimenta, Secretaria de Saúde de Belo Horizonte; Giovanini Coelho, Pan-American Health Organization; Haroldo Bezerra, Pan-American Health Organization
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-08-05
• Publisher: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0074-02760200284
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
• Volume: 115
• Grant/Funding Information: None declared
• Keywords: COVID-19; Zika; pandemic; Aedes aegypti; simultaneous transmission; dengue; public health system; Chikungunya; tropics; epidemiology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Environmental Sciences; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenges public health systems around the world. Tropical countries will face complex epidemiological scenarios involving the simultaneous transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti. The occurrence of arboviral diseases with COVID-19 in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region presents challenges and opportunities for strengthening health services, surveillance and control programs. Financing of training, equipment and reconversion of hospital spaces will have a negative effect on already the limited resource directed to the health sector. The strengthening of the diagnostic infrastructure reappears as an opportunity for the national reference laboratories. Sharing of epidemiological information for the modeling of epidemiological scenarios allows collaboration between health, academic and scientific institutions. The fear of contagion by COVID-19 is constraining people with arboviral diseases to search for care which can lead to an increase in serious cases and could disrupt the operation of vector-control programs due to the reluctance of residents to open their doors to health personnel. Promoting intense community participation along with the incorporation of long lasting innovations in vector control offers new opportunities for control. The COVID-19 pandemic offers challenges and opportunities that must provoke positive behavioral changes and encourage more permanent self-care actions.