Quantifying the relationship between arboviral infection prevalence and human mobility patterns among participants of the Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses cohort (COPA) in southern Puerto Rico.

Human movement is increasingly being recognized as a major driver of arbovirus risk and dissemination. The Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses (COPA) study is a cohort in southern Puerto Rico to measure arboviral prevalence, evaluate interventions, and collect mobility data. To quantify the relationship between arboviral prevalence and human mobility patterns, we fit multilevel logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios for mobility-related predictors of positive chikungunya IgG or Zika IgM test results collected from COPA, assuming mobility data does not change substantially from year to year. From May 8, 2018-June 8, 2019, 39% of the 1,845 active participants during the study period had a positive arboviral seroprevalence result. Most (74%) participants reported spending five or more weekly hours outside of their home. A 1% increase in weekly hours spent outside the home was associated with a 4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2-7%) decrease in the odds of testing positive for arbovirus. After adjusting for age and whether a person had air conditioning (AC) at home, any time spent in a work location was protective against arbovirus infection (32% decrease, CI: 9-49%). In fact, there was a general decreased prevalence for individuals who visited locations that were inside and had AC or screens, regardless of the type of location (32% decrease, CI: 12-47%). In this population, the protective characteristics of locations visited appear to be the most important driver of the relationship between mobility and arboviral prevalence. This relationship indicates that not all mobility is the same, with elements like screens and AC providing protection in some locations. These findings highlight the general importance of AC and screens, which are known to be protective against mosquitoes and mosquito-transmitted diseases.

Nota informativa N. 01/2023: alerta sobre isolamento da DENV-3, aumento de arboviroses no território nacional e risco de epidemia em Goiás / Information Note N. 01/2023: warning about isolation of DENV-3, increase in arboviruses in the national territory and the risk of an epidemic in Goiás

O cenário epidemiológico nacional mostra um aumento do número de casos notificados de dengue e o isolamento de DENV-3. O DENV-3 teve circulação importante no Brasil entre os anos de 2016 e 2017, após esse período tivemos predomínio dos sorotipos DENV-1 e DENV-2. A reintrodução desse sorotipo traz um alerta por meio desta nota técnica onde traz importantes recomendações aos municípios para a prevenção de uma possível epidemia de arboviroses

The national epidemiological scenario shows an increase in the number of reported cases of dengue and the isolation of DENV-3. DENV-3 had important circulation in Brazil between 2016 and 2017, after this period we had a predominance of DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes. The reintroduction of this serotype brings an alert through this technical note which provides important recommendations to municipalities for the prevention of a possible arbovirus epidemic

[Discovery and distribution of and response to arbovirus in China over the past seven decades].

Arbovirus is a group of virus transmitted by blood-sucking arthropod bites, which infects both arthropods and vertebrates. More than 600 arboviruses have been characterized worldwide until now, including 65 highly pathogenic viruses, which pose a high threat to public health. The risk of arbovirus transmission is increasing due to climate change, international trade and urbanization. The review summarizes the discovery and distribution of emerging and reemerging arboviruses and novel arboviruses with potential pathogenic risks, and proposes responses to the arbovirus transmission risk, so as to provide insights into the research and management of arboviruses and arthropod-borne infectious diseases in China.

Development of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies for Emerging Arbovirus Infections.

Antibody-based passive immunotherapy has been used effectively in the treatment and prophylaxis of infectious diseases. Outbreaks of emerging viral infections from arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) represent a global public health problem due to their rapid spread, urging measures and the treatment of infected individuals to combat them. Preparedness in advances in developing antivirals and relevant epidemiological studies protect us from damage and losses. Immunotherapy based on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been shown to be very specific in combating infectious diseases and various other illnesses. Recent advances in mAb discovery techniques have allowed the development and approval of a wide number of therapeutic mAbs. This review focuses on the technological approaches available to select neutralizing mAbs for emerging arbovirus infections and the next-generation strategies to obtain highly effective and potent mAbs. The characteristics of mAbs developed as prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral agents for dengue, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile and tick-borne encephalitis virus are presented, as well as the protective effect demonstrated in animal model studies.

Zoonotic mosquito-borne arboviruses: Spillover, spillback, and realistic mitigation strategies.

Emerging zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses pose increasing health threats because of growing mosquito population, geographic expansions, and control challenges. We emphasize the need for global preparedness to effectively mitigate the health, societal, and economic impacts of spillover by these viruses through proactive measures of prediction, surveillance, prevention, and treatment.

Developing African arbovirus networks and capacity strengthening in arbovirus surveillance and response: findings from a virtual workshop.

This meeting report presents the key findings and discussion points of a 3-h virtual workshop, held on 21 September 2022, and organized by the "Resilience Against Future Threats through Vector Control (RAFT)" research consortium. The workshop aimed to identify priorities for advancing arbovirus research, network and capacity strengthening in Africa. Due to increasing human population growth, urbanization and global movement (trade, tourism, travel), mosquito-borne arboviral diseases, such as dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, are increasing globally in their distribution and prevalence. This report summarizes the presentations that reviewed the current status of arboviruses in Africa, including: (i) key findings from the recent WHO/Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR) survey in 47 African countries that revealed deep and widespread shortfalls in the capacity to cope with arbovirus outbreak preparedness, surveillance and control; (ii) the value of networking in this context, with examples of African countries regarding arbovirus surveillance; and (iii) the main priorities identified by the breakout groups on "research gaps", "networks" and "capacity strengthening".

Boletim epidemiológico: monitoramento dos casos de arboviroses em Goiás da semana epidemiológica 01 de 2022 até a semana epidemiológica 14 de 2023 / Epidemiological bulletin: monitoring of cases of arboviruses in Goiás from epidemiological week 01 of 2022 to epidemiological week 14 of 2023

As arboviroses transmitidas pelo mosquito Aedes aegypti são um dos principais problemas de saúde pública no Estado de Goiás. Este boletim uma produção mensal, com o objetivo de apresentar a situação epidemiológica dos casos no estado, utilizando como fonte de dados os registros de casos suspeitos e confirmados ocorridos nos últimos anos, disponíveis no Sinan Online e Sinan Net. Adicionalmente, também é apresentado dados relativos à Síndrome Congênita associada à infecção pelo Zika Vírus, disponíveis no Sistema de Registro de Eventos em Saúde Pública (RESP) ­ Microcefalias

The arboviruses transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito are one of the main public health problems in the State of Goiás. This bulletin is a monthly production, with the objective of presenting the epidemiological situation of the cases in the state, using as a source of data the records of suspected cases and confirmed occurrences in recent years, available on Sinan Online and Sinan Net. In addition, data on the Congenital Syndrome associated with Zika Virus infection are also presented, available on the Public Health Event Registration System (RESP) ­ Microcephaly

Plano de contingência para controle arboviroses - 2023/2024 (Dengue - Chikungunya - Zika) / Contingency Plan for Arbovirus Control - 2023/2024 (Dengue - Chikungunya - Zika)

O quadro epidemiológico atual das arboviroses no estado de Goiás caracteriza-se pela ampla distribuição do Aedes aegypti em todas as regiões, com circulação simultânea de sorotipos virais 1 e 2 da dengue e confirmação de casos de zika e chikungunya, objetivando a prevenção e controle de epidemias das arboviroses: dengue, chikungunya e zika a Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Goiás apresenta o Plano de contingência para o controle de arboviroses 2023 - 2024

The current epidemiological picture of arboviruses in the state of Goiás is characterized by the wide distribution of Aedes aegypti in all regions, with simultaneous circulation of viral serotypes 1 and 2 of dengue and confirmation of cases of zika and chikungunya, aiming at the prevention and control of epidemics of arboviruses: dengue, chikungunya and zika the State Department of Health of Goiás presents the Plan of contingency for the control of arboviruses 2023 - 2024

Safety and immunogenicity of AGS-v PLUS, a mosquito saliva peptide vaccine against arboviral diseases: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial.

BACKGROUND: Immunity to mosquito salivary proteins could provide protection against multiple mosquito-borne diseases and significantly impact public health. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of AGS-v PLUS, a mosquito salivary peptide vaccine, in healthy adults 18-50 years old. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study of AGS-v PLUS administered subcutaneously on Days 1 and 22 at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants were block randomized 1:1:1:1:1 to two doses saline placebo, two doses AGS-v PLUS, AGS-v PLUS/ISA-51 and saline placebo, two doses AGS-v PLUS/ISA-51, or two doses AGS-v PLUS/Alhydrogel. Primary endpoints were safety (all participants receiving ≥1 injection) and antibody and cytokine responses (all participants with day 43 samples), analysed by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Between 26 August 2019 and 25 February 2020, 51 participants were enrolled and randomized, 11 into the single dose AGS-v PLUS/ISA-51 group and ten in other groups. Due to COVID-19, 15 participants did not return for day 43 samplings. Participants experienced no treatment-emergent or serious adverse events. All solicited symptoms in 2/10 placebo recipients and 22/41 AGS-v PLUS recipients after dose one and 1/10 placebo recipients and 22/41 AGS-v PLUS recipients after dose two were mild/moderate except for one severe fever the day after vaccination (placebo group). Only injection site pain was more common in vaccine groups (15/51 after dose 1 and 11/51 after dose 2) versus placebo. Compared to placebo, all vaccine groups had significantly greater fold change in anti-AGS-v PLUS IgG and IFN-É£ from baseline. INTERPRETATION: AGS-v PLUS had favourable safety profile and induced robust immune responses. Next steps will determine if findings translate into clinical efficacy against mosquito-borne diseases. FUNDING: UK Department of Health and Social Care.

Brasil integra debate da OMS sobre iniciativa global de controle das arboviroses

O trabalho realizado pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil para prevenção e controle das arboviroses – dengue, zika, chikungunya e febre amarela – ganhou destaque, nesta quinta-feira (31), na reunião Global Integrated Arboviruses Initiative, promovida pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS).

Prevention and control of mosquito-borne arboviral diseases: lessons learned from a school-based intervention in Brazil (Zikamob).

BACKGROUND: Since the 1980s, when dengue was reintroduced in Brazil, outbreaks and epidemics caused by different arbovirus strains transmitted by vector mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti have been an annual occurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavioural change of high school students and teachers who participated in an educational intervention for the prevention and vector control of arboviral diseases. METHODS: In this school-based intervention, a self-reported questionnaire was used in a pre-post intervention methodology to assess environmental risk factors, sociodemographic variables and to measure attitudes and behaviours. In all, 883 high school students and teachers from the city of Campina Grande, in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, participated. The e-health intervention consisted of a competition between schools to comply with preventive actions via content production for social networks, and the monitoring was performed over a period of three months through the ZikaMob software developed by the researchers. RESULTS: Out of the 883 survey participants, 690 were students ranging in age from 14 to 41 years, with an average of 17 ± 2 years; and 193 were teachers from 22 to 64 years old, averaging 38 ± 9 years. The analysis of the data shows that significant differences in most of the target behaviours were apparent after the intervention, with an increase of about 10% in the performance of inspection actions; a 7% greater separation of recyclables and a 40% increase in the screening of windows among students. Students showed lower fear of, and a lower self-perception of the risk of, acquiring arboviruses than teachers on average. CONCLUSIONS: ZikaMob is an innovative strategy with the potential to be replicated in any location that has an internet network and can involve an unlimited number of participants.

Special Issue "Mosquito-Borne Virus Ecology".

Mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs), also known as moboviruses, are associated mainly with mosquitoes and are able to infect humans and other vertebrates [...].

Innovación Educativa: Aprendizaje lúdico para el control de arbovirosis / Educational Innovation: Playful learning for arbovirus control

Las arboviroris, son enfermedades transmitidas por artrópodos (insectos vectores), presentan una clínica habitual de fiebre, síntomas articulares, hemorrágicos y neurológicos. Los de mayor importancia en salud pública son el zika, dengue y chikungunya, y se transmiten a las personas principalmente por la picadura de un mosquito de la especie Aedes. Para resolver la falta de información en la población joven para el control y prevención de estas enfermedades vectoriales se plantea utilizar nuevas estrategias pedagógicas y tecnologías lúdicas, como los videojuegos, para una innovación educativa que promueva el aprendizaje. Se realizó una investigación descriptiva de cohorte transversal, en escolares de 5 y 6 grado, en tres colegios primarios, de la capital de la República del Perú. La muestra estuvo integrada por un total de 288 escolares y fue dividida en cuatro (4) grupos de 6 niños cada uno para la aplicación de la innovación educativa, asignados como: (ETE), (CIE 1), (CIE 2) y (CIE 3). La evaluación del conocimiento, hábitos y aceptación de los métodos se ejecutó pre y post-intervención, midiéndose mediante encuestas. Por consiguiente luego de los resultados en promedio post-intervención se concluyó que la captación de conocimientos y generación de hábitos fueron mayores para los grupos que utilizaron los videojuegos como innovación educativa lúdica, siendo el videojuego interactivo "Pica el Aedes", el que obtuvo el mayor porcentaje de aprendizaje. Sin embargo el videojuego interactivo "Pueblo Pitanga, enemigos silenciosos" fue el que obtuvo la mayor aceptación por parte de los escolares(AU)

The arboviroris, are diseases transmitted by arthropods (vector insects), they present a habitual clinic of fever, joint, hemorrhagic and neurological symptoms. The most important ones in public health are Zika, dengue and chikungunya, and they are transmitted to people mainly through the bite of an Aedes species mosquito. To resolve the lack of information in the young population for the control and prevention of these vector diseases, it is proposed to use new pedagogical strategies and recreational technologies, such as video games, for an educational innovation that promotes learning. A descriptive cross-sectional cohort investigation was conducted in 5th and 6th grade schoolchildren in three primary schools in the capital of the Republic of Peru. The sample consisted of a total of 288 schoolchildren and was divided into four (4) groups of 6 children each for the application of educational innovation, assigned as: (ETE), (CIE 1), (CIE 2) and (CIE 3). The evaluation of the knowledge, habits and acceptance of the methods was carried out before and after the intervention, being measured by means of surveys. Consequently, after the average post-intervention results, it was concluded that the uptake of knowledge and generation of habits were higher for the groups that used video games as a recreational educational innovation, being the interactive video game "Pica el Aedes", the one that obtained the higher percentage of learning. However, the interactive video game "Pueblo Pitanga, enemigos silenciosos" was the one that obtained the greatest acceptance from schoolchildren(AU)

Caracterización epidemiológica de los pacientes con sospecha clínica y diagnóstico de arbovirosis en Granma durante el 2019 / Epidemiological characterization of patients with clinical suspicion and diagnosis of arbovirus in Granma province during 2019

Introducción: Las enfermedades arbovirales presentan un eleva incidencia y constituyen una amenaza permanente para la salud a escala mundial. Objetivo: Caracterizar epidemiológicamente los pacientes con sospecha clínica y diagnóstico de arbovirosis en la provincia Granma durante el 2019. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal en el periodo comprendido entre el primero de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2019. Las variables estudiadas fueron: edad, sexo, municipios, formas de identificación de signos y síntomas, positividad a dengue y meses de estudio de los pacientes. Resultados: En los casos estudiados por sospechas, el 41,43 por ciento pertenecía al municipio Bayamo y el 51,85 por ciento (9180) fueron pacientes femeninas. El rango de edad predominante fue ≤ 20 años (n = 8340; 47,10 por ciento). En el 87,07 por ciento (15417) de los pacientes la identificación de signos y síntomas sugerentes de arbovirosis fue mediante las pesquisas. La positividad a dengue se encontró en el 25,00 por ciento de los pacientes (4427), de los cuales el 53,87 por ciento (2385) fueron pacientes femeninas. El rango de edad más afectado por la arbovirosis fue el de 41-60 (n = 1422; 32,12 por ciento). El mes de septiembre fue el de mayor número de casos tanto estudiados por sospechas (n = 3720; 21,01 por ciento) como confirmados con dengue (n = 1341; 30,29 por ciento). En la provincia, la tasa de incidencia del dengue fue de 54,0 por cada 10 mil habitantes. Conclusiones: Se evidenció la importancia de las pesquisas como método para identificar signos y síntomas sugerentes de enfermedades arbovirales. Las tasas de incidencia calculadas señalaron a los territorios más afectados por dengue, lo cual constituye un punto de partida para la implementación de estrategias de salud enfocadas en la prevención arboviral(AU)

Introduction: Arboviral diseases have a high incidence and constitute a permanent threat to health globally. Objective: Characterize from the epidemiological perspective patients with clinical suspicion and diagnosis of arbovirus in Granma province during 2019. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the period between January 1st and December 31st, 2019. The variables studied were: age, sex, municipalities, ways of identifying signs and symptoms, dengue positivity and months of study of patients. Results: In the cases studied due to suspicions, 41.43 percent belonged to Bayamo municipality and 51.85percent (9180) were female patients. The predominant age range was ≤ 20 years (n = 8340; 47.10percent). In 87.07percent (15417) of patients, the identification of signs and symptoms suggestive to arbovirus was through investigations. Dengue positivity was found in 25.00 percent of patients (4427), of which 53.87percent (2385) were female patients. The age range most affected by arbovirus was 41-60 (n = 1422; 32.12percent). September was the month with the highest number of cases both studied by suspicions (n = 3720; 21.01percent) and confirmed with dengue (n = 1341; 30.29percent). In the province, the incidence rate of dengue was 54.0 per 10,000 inhabitants. Conclusions: The importance of the investigations as a method to identify signs and symptoms suggestive to arboviral diseases was evidenced. The calculated incidence rates indicated the most affected territories by dengue, which constitutes a starting point for the implementation of health strategies focused on arboviral prevention(AU)

Releasing incompatible males drives strong suppression across populations of wild and Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti in Australia.

Releasing sterile or incompatible male insects is a proven method of population management in agricultural systems with the potential to revolutionize mosquito control. Through a collaborative venture with the "Debug" Verily Life Sciences team, we assessed the incompatible insect technique (IIT) with the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti in northern Australia in a replicated treatment control field trial. Backcrossing a US strain of Ae. aegypti carrying Wolbachia wAlbB from Aedes albopictus with a local strain, we generated a wAlbB2-F4 strain incompatible with both the wild-type (no Wolbachia) and wMel-Wolbachia Ae. aegypti now extant in North Queensland. The wAlbB2-F4 strain was manually mass reared with males separated from females using Verily sex-sorting technologies to obtain no detectable female contamination in the field. With community consent, we delivered a total of three million IIT males into three isolated landscapes of over 200 houses each, releasing ∼50 males per house three times a week over 20 wk. Detecting initial overflooding ratios of between 5:1 and 10:1, strong population declines well beyond 80% were detected across all treatment landscapes when compared to controls. Monitoring through the following season to observe the ongoing effect saw one treatment landscape devoid of adult Ae. aegypti early in the season. A second landscape showed reduced adults, and the third recovered fully. These encouraging results in suppressing both wild-type and wMel-Ae. aegypti confirms the utility of bidirectional incompatibility in the field setting, show the IIT to be robust, and indicate that the removal of this arbovirus vector from human-occupied landscapes may be achievable.

[Gestion of arboviral alerts: Experience feedback from the Secproch working group of the French "Haut Conseil de la santé publique" (2019-2021)]. / Gestion des alertes arbovirales : retour d'expérience du groupe de travail Secproch du Haut Conseil de la santé publique (2019­2021).

The Secproch working group (for "sécurité des produits issus du corps humain") was created in 2019 within the « Haut Conseil de la santé publique ¼ (HCSP) for addressing all the questions related to labile blood products, organs, tissues, cells (OTC) and gametes issued from human body. It is notably in charge of the management of alerts regarding arbovirus infections. These infections due to arthropod-transmitted viruses are responsible for emergence and reemergence, notably in the context of global warming. This review relates the alerts taken into consideration by the Secproch group between 2019 and 2021 following three pathologies due to Flaviviridae : dengue, West Nile virus (WNV) infection and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The dengue alerts have occurred in French Indies where the virus is endemic/epidemic, Reunion Island where the population was naïve until 2018 towards the virus, and the metropole where foci of autochthonous cases are observed sporadically. The WNV infection was responsible of both human and equine cases in 2019 in the South of France but with intensity much less than in 2018. At last, the TBE virus was at the origin of a cluster of about 40 cases in the Ain department following a contamination by crude non-pasteurized goat cheese. This review offers the opportunity to reevaluate the risks linked to these three viruses through blood products and organs/tissues/cells and to precise the means recommended by HCSP to secure these products.

Minireview: Epidemiological impact of arboviral diseases in Latin American countries, arbovirus-vector interactions and control strategies.

Mosquitoes are the most crucial insects in public health due to their vector capacity and competence to transmit pathogens, including arboviruses, bacterias and parasites. Re-emerging and emerging arboviral diseases, such as yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), zika virus (ZIKV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), constitute one of the most critical health public concerns in Latin America. These diseases present a significant incidence within the human settlements increasing morbidity and mortality events. Likewise, among the different genus of mosquito vectors of arboviruses, those of the most significant medical importance corresponds to Aedes and Culex. In Latin America, the mosquito vector species of YFV, DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV are mainly Aedes aegypti and Ae. Albopictus. Ae. aegypti is recognized as the primary vector in urban environments, whereas Ae. albopictus, recently introduced in the Americas, is more prone to rural settings. This minireview focuses on what is known about the epidemiological impact of mosquito-borne diseases in Latin American countries, with particular emphasis on YFV, DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV, vector mosquitoes, geographic distribution, and vector-arbovirus interactions. Besides, it was analyzed how climate change and social factors have influenced the spread of arboviruses and the control strategies developed against mosquitoes in this continent.