Arbovirus researchers unite: expanding genomic surveillance for an urgent global need

WALLAU, GABRIEL LUZ; DIAZ, LUIS ADRIÁN; GLOBAL ARBOVIRUS RESEARCHERS UNITED

The Lancet Global Health

Elsevier Ltd

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023 vol. 11 p. 1501 - 1502

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted by arthropod vectors to humans, leading to disease outbreaks mainly in tropical regions of the world.1 Although many arboviruses are known, three Aedes-spp-borne viruses are particularly concerning for humans at a global scale due to recurring large and expanding epidemic outbreaks of dengue virus, Zika virus, and chikungunya virus. These viruses cause a heavy disease burden with mild to potentially life-threatening symptoms, resulting in substantial short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological estimates underscore the impact of these viruses, with half of the world population at risk of dengue virus infection and around 100–400 million cases and 20 000 deaths reported each year. In addition to worsening outbreaks in tropical areas, there has been an increase in disease in subtropical and temperate regions, driven by the expansion of the main vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus to new areas associated with urbanisation, globalisation, human mobility, and climate change. An additional 100 million people are estimated to be at risk of infection owing to wider transmission seasons in high-altitude areas and temperate regions of the world in the next 50 years. To strengthen the mitigation of epidemics of these arboviruses, WHO launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative in March, 2022, to build a coalition of key stakeholders to improve surveillance and prevention.