The spread of dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses remains a major public health challenge for different nations. In recent letter published in “The Lancet Global Health”, the most prestigious scientific journal in the biomedical area, researchers from 54 countries advocate the implementation of a robust and global genomic surveillance for the rapid detection and understanding of endemic and high-impact arboviruses.
The proposal is presented in the context of the substantial increase in cases of the diseases caused by these viruses in endemic countries, added to new outbreaks in locations where they had not yet been registered. Among the 74 scientists who signed the publication are two researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz): Rafael Maciel de Freitas, head of the Laboratory of Mosquitoes Transmitting Hematozoans, and Felipe Naveca, of the Laboratory of Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Viruses, but who also works at the Leônidas and Maria Deane Institute (Fiocruz-Manaus).
For the authors, molecular surveillance is a valuable model for early warning of outbreaks of these arboviruses. From significant genomic data and epidemiological metadata, specialists can assess the prevalence of lineages and detect infectious agents that are more virulent and resistant to drugs, antivirals and vaccines.
"Following the implementation of genomic surveillance in most countries around the world for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, there is now an opportunity to implement routine and sustainable large-scale genomic surveillance for arboviruses," say the scientists at letter, in free translation into Portuguese.
The lack of agility in the dissemination of arbovirus genomic data is one of the main issues addressed in the document. Currently, most of the information is shared after articles are reviewed by peers, and in a non-standardized way worldwide, which delays interventions and responses when there is an increase in cases of the diseases.
In this scenario, the group advocates the adoption of a high-quality curated database, mentioning EpiArbo, based on EpiCov — the successful platform of the Global Data Science Initiative (Gisaid) used to better understand SARS-CoV-2 , responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a homogeneous registry base that advocates agility in the deposit and sharing of genomes, as well as copyright protection, specialists hope to carry out comprehensive epidemiological analyzes and risk assessment in the containment of arbovirus outbreaks around the world, starting with the dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses due to global impact.
From Fiocruz, also sign the letter Constancia Ayres and Gabriel Luz Wallau (main author), both from Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (Fiocruz-PE). The document can be read in full, in English, at The Lancet Global Health website.
Arboviruses are transmitted to humans through arthropod vectors, causing disease outbreaks, mainly in tropical regions. Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are some examples of arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. In Brazil, the main vector of these viruses is the mosquito. Aedes aegypti.
Epidemiological estimates raised in the document reveal that half of the world's population is at risk of infection by the dengue virus, with approximately 100 to 400 million cases and 20 deaths reported each year.
The authors also express concern for the constant expansion of the Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus to new regions of the world associated with urbanization, globalization, human mobility and climate change. This scenario tends to aggravate outbreaks in tropical areas, as well as reflecting the increase of these diseases in subtropical and temperate regions.
Scientists believe that over the next 50 years, an additional 100 million people around the world will be at risk of infection due to wider transmission seasons in these new areas.
In March 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative. The action aims to strengthen the mitigation of epidemics of these viruses and seeks to build a coalition of stakeholders to improve surveillance and prevention of arbovirus diseases.
The spread of dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses remains a major public health challenge for different nations. In recent letter published in “The Lancet Global Health”, the most prestigious scientific journal in the biomedical area, researchers from 54 countries advocate the implementation of a robust and global genomic surveillance for the rapid detection and understanding of endemic and high-impact arboviruses.
The proposal is presented in the context of the substantial increase in cases of the diseases caused by these viruses in endemic countries, added to new outbreaks in locations where they had not yet been registered. Among the 74 scientists who signed the publication are two researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz): Rafael Maciel de Freitas, head of the Laboratory of Mosquitoes Transmitting Hematozoans, and Felipe Naveca, of the Laboratory of Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Viruses, but who also works at the Leônidas and Maria Deane Institute (Fiocruz-Manaus).
For the authors, molecular surveillance is a valuable model for early warning of outbreaks of these arboviruses. From significant genomic data and epidemiological metadata, specialists can assess the prevalence of lineages and detect infectious agents that are more virulent and resistant to drugs, antivirals and vaccines.
"Following the implementation of genomic surveillance in most countries around the world for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, there is now an opportunity to implement routine and sustainable large-scale genomic surveillance for arboviruses," say the scientists at letter, in free translation into Portuguese.
The lack of agility in the dissemination of arbovirus genomic data is one of the main issues addressed in the document. Currently, most of the information is shared after articles are reviewed by peers, and in a non-standardized way worldwide, which delays interventions and responses when there is an increase in cases of the diseases.
In this scenario, the group advocates the adoption of a high-quality curated database, mentioning EpiArbo, based on EpiCov — the successful platform of the Global Data Science Initiative (Gisaid) used to better understand SARS-CoV-2 , responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a homogeneous registry base that advocates agility in the deposit and sharing of genomes, as well as copyright protection, specialists hope to carry out comprehensive epidemiological analyzes and risk assessment in the containment of arbovirus outbreaks around the world, starting with the dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses due to global impact.
From Fiocruz, also sign the letter Constancia Ayres and Gabriel Luz Wallau (main author), both from Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (Fiocruz-PE). The document can be read in full, in English, at The Lancet Global Health website.
Arboviruses are transmitted to humans through arthropod vectors, causing disease outbreaks, mainly in tropical regions. Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are some examples of arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. In Brazil, the main vector of these viruses is the mosquito. Aedes aegypti.
Epidemiological estimates raised in the document reveal that half of the world's population is at risk of infection by the dengue virus, with approximately 100 to 400 million cases and 20 deaths reported each year.
The authors also express concern for the constant expansion of the Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus to new regions of the world associated with urbanization, globalization, human mobility and climate change. This scenario tends to aggravate outbreaks in tropical areas, as well as reflecting the increase of these diseases in subtropical and temperate regions.
Scientists believe that over the next 50 years, an additional 100 million people around the world will be at risk of infection due to wider transmission seasons in these new areas.
In March 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative. The action aims to strengthen the mitigation of epidemics of these viruses and seeks to build a coalition of stakeholders to improve surveillance and prevention of arbovirus diseases.
The non-profit reproduction of the text is allowed as long as the source is cited (Comunicação / Instituto Oswaldo Cruz)
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