Emerging vector-borne diseases and the potential to prevent them spreading.
2014
Sánchez-Vizcaíno, J. M. | Martínez-Avilés, M. | Sánchez-Matamoros, A. | Rodríguez-Prieto, V.
Europe has experienced an increasing number of emerging vector-borne diseases and the recrudescence or re-emergence of others. Global warming offers suitable conditions for arthropod proliferation, some of which can be competent vectors of such diseases. With the increased risk of introduction of potentially infected animals because of shortened travelling times to any part of the world, vector-borne diseases are likely to emerge if the conditions for competent vector proliferation and suitable hosts are found at the destination. Vector-borne diseases are generally complex to deal with, so cooperation and collaboration of the different sectors implied, and with neighbouring countries, are fundamental to coordinate control and prevention actions. Among these, surveillance to detect these infections early is crucial, since susceptible hosts are frequently asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. However, when conditions are suitable, the impact of these diseases can be very severe. The combination of epidemiological and diagnostic tools to identify locations, time and populations where an outbreak is expected to occur, and how to detect it as soon as possible, are fundamental for an effective surveillance. Another area of cooperation is the preparedness, through vaccine banks, against the different known strains, profound knowledge of immunity to vector-borne pathogens, and the development of diagnostic tests that can differentiate vaccinated from infected individuals. In this paper we review bluetongue, African horse sickness, West Nile fever and Rift Valley fever, and we focus on Europe's experience in tackling the emergence of these pathogens.
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