Chikungunya risk for Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to show, based on the literature on the subject, the potential for dispersal and establishment of the chikungunya virus in Brazil. The chikungunya virus, a Togaviridae member of the genus Alphavirus, reached the Americas in 2013 and, the following year, more than a million cases were reported. In Brazil, indigenous transmission was registered in Amapa and Bahia States, even during the period of low rainfall, exposing the whole country to the risk of virus spreading. Brazil is historically infested by Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, also dengue vectors. Chikungunya may spread, and it is important to take measures to prevent the virus from becoming endemic in the country. Adequate care for patients with chikungunya fever requires training general practitioners, rheumatologists, nurses, and experts in laboratory diagnosis. Up to November 2014, more than 1,000 cases of the virus were reported in Brazil. There is a need for experimental studies in animal models to understand the dynamics of infection and the pathogenesis as well as to identify pathophysiological mechanisms that may contribute to identifying effective drugs against the virus. Clinical trials are needed to identify the causal relationship between the virus and serious injuries observed in different organs and joints. In the absence of vaccines or effective drugs against the virus, currently the only way to prevent the disease is vector control, which will also reduce the number of cases of dengue fever.

A scoping review of Chikungunya virus infection: epidemiology, clinical characteristics, viral co-circulation complications, and control

“…1C). In human hosts, the intrinsic incubation time can vary from one to twelve days and infected individuals may present viremia of up to ten days (Kam et al, 2009;Simon et al, 2011;Azevedo et al, 2015).…”

Dengue infection in the nervous system: lessons learned for Zika and Chikungunya

“…The mosquito Aedes spp is the main vector for dengue virus (DENV) transmission, as well as for ZIKV and CHIKV 11,12 . Lack of control of vector proliferation is the most important event responsible for the vast and accelerated spread of these emerging viral infections, which can cause subsequent severe neurological complications in hosts who live in previously unaffected regions.…”

“…In 2014, the first reports of indigenous transmission and outbreak in the city of Feira de Santana (Bahia) came out in Brazil 11 .…”

Path of infectious diseases in Brazil in the last 50 years: an ongoing challenge

“…The Zika virus have a strong international repercussion for being associated with congenital malformations and neurological complications 36 , 89 . Despite being recent events, both arboviruses were covered in RSP by two very interesting and convenient articles 13 , 104 .…”

“…Brazil was also heavily affected by the emergence of HIV 23 , 130 . In addition, we have seen the emergence of three arboviruses: Rocio virus encephalitis causes a serious epidemic in the region of Vale do Rio Ribeira, SP, in the 1970s 91 , 163 and, more recently, the emergence of Chikungunya 13 , 55 and Zika 36 , 89 , 104 viruses.…”