Assignment #3

Vector Borne diseases

Syed Ammar Masood

BBT193023

Public Health and Environment

Section-1

SUBMITTED TO: Dr. Erum Dilshad

8th December, 2022

Vector Borne Diseases

Table of Contents
Vectors ................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Vector-borne diseases .......................................................................................................................................... 3

Key facts ................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Types of Vector borne diseases: ........................................................................................................................... 4

Chikungunya-Virus .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Dengue ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Malaria ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Chagas ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Leishmaniasis............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Schistosomiasis: ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
Yellow fever: ............................................................................................................................................................. 6
Chikungunya ............................................................................................................................................................. 6

Lymphatic filariasis ................................................................................................................................................... 7

Onchocerciasis(river blindness) ................................................................................................................................ 7

West Nile virus: ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Tick-borne diseases................................................................................................................................................... 8
Sand-fly-borne diseases ............................................................................................................................................ 8

Preventive measures to protect against vectors ................................................................................................... 9

A Coordinated Strategy For Vector-Borne Threats ................................................................................................ 9

Steps being taken to prepare the nation ................................................................................................................ 10
Advance innovation and discovery ......................................................................................................................... 10
To build local vector control programs, we need:................................................................................................... 10

Reference:.......................................................................................................................................................... 11

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Vector Borne Diseases

Vectors
Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans, or from
animals to humans. Many of these vectors are bloodsucking insects, which ingest disease-
producing microorganisms during a blood meal from an infected host (human or animal) and later
transmit it into a new host, after the pathogen has replicated. Often, once a vector becomes
infectious, they are capable of transmitting the pathogen for the rest of their life during each
subsequent bite/blood meal.

Vector-borne diseases
Vector-borne diseases are human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria that are
transmitted by vectors. Every year there are more than 700,000 deaths from diseases such as
malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease,
yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and onchocerciasis.

The burden of these diseases is highest in tropical and subtropical areas, and they
disproportionately affect the poorest populations. Since 2014, major outbreaks of dengue, malaria,
chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika have afflicted populations, claimed lives, and overwhelmed
health systems in many countries. Other diseases such as Chikungunya, leishmaniasis and
lymphatic filariasis cause chronic suffering, life-long morbidity, disability and occasional
stigmatisation.

Distribution of vector-borne diseases is determined by a complex set of demographic,

environmental and social factors. Global travel and trade, unplanned urbanization.

Key facts
Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than
700 000 deaths annually. They can be caused by either parasites, bacteria or viruses.

Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by Anopheline mosquitoes. It causes an estimated 219

million cases globally, and results in more than 400,000 deaths every year. Most of the deaths
occur in children under the age of 5 years.

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Dengue is the most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. More than 3.9
billion people in over 129 countries are at risk of contracting dengue, with an estimated 96 million
symptomatic cases and an estimated 40,000 deaths every year.

Other viral diseases transmitted by vectors include chikungunya fever, Zika virus fever, yellow
fever, West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis (all transmitted by mosquitoes), tick-borne
encephalitis (transmitted by ticks).

Many of vector-borne diseases are preventable, through protective measures, and community
mobilisation.

Types of Vector borne diseases:

Vector-Borne Disease: Disease that results from an infection transmitted to humans and other
animals by blood-feeding anthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Examples of vector-
borne diseases include Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.

Chikungunya-Virus

Chikungunya virus is transmitted to people by mosquitoes; specifically the Aedes

aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of chikungunya virus
infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint
swelling, or rash.

Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
In late 2013, chikungunya virus was found for the first time in the Americas on islands in the
Caribbean. On July 16, 2014, the first locally acquired cases in the continental United States was
identified in Florida. Chikungunya virus is not currently found in mosquitoes in Los Angeles
County. There is a risk that the virus will be imported to new areas by infected travelers. There is
no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection. Travelers can protect
themselves by preventing mosquito bites. When traveling to countries with chikungunya virus, use
insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use
window and door screens.

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Dengue
A potentially lethal disease transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Ø Dengue and theAedes aegypti mosquito are present in all countries of the Americas except
Canada and continental Chile. Uruguay has no cases but does haveAe. Aegypti
Ø About 500 million people are at risk in the Americas
Ø Incidence rose from 16 cases per 100,000 people to 218 cases per 100,000 between 1980
and 2000-2010.
Ø In 2013 (an epidemic year) there were 2.3 million cases (430.8 per 100,000) and 1,280
deaths in the hemisphere.

Malaria

Caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted through bites of Anophelesmosquitoes

Ø Present in 21 countries of the Americas

Ø 145 million people in the region at risk of contracting the disease
Ø Cases declined 60% and deaths 72% between 2000 and 2012
Ø Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Paraguay are in the
process of eliminating malaria

Chagas
A parasitic disease caused by T. cruzi and transmitted mainly through the bites of the so-called
"kissing bug"

Ø Present in 21 countries of the Americas

Ø 65 million people in the region live in areas of exposure
Ø An estimated 6-8 million people are infected in the region
Ø Each year, an average 28,000 cases are reported, and 8,000 newborns become infected in
the Americas

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Leishmaniasis
Caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania, transmitted through mosquito bites

Ø Present in 19 countries of the Americas

Ø 4 of the 10 countries in the world that report 75% of all cutaneous cases are in the Americas:
Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Nicaragua
Ø An average 60,000 cases of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis are diagnosed each year
in the Americas, and 4,000 visceral cases, with a case fatality rate of 7%.

Schistosomiasis:
A chronic parasitic infection caused by small worms

Ø In the Americas, nearly 1.6 million children need preventive medication

Ø Endemic in Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname and Santa Lucia
Ø Suriname and Santa Lucia are close to interrupting transmission
Ø Available information indicates transmission has been interrupted in the Dominican
Republic, Puerto Rico, Montserrat, Antigua, Martinique and Guadaloupe

Yellow fever:
An acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes

Ø Globally there are some 200,000 cases yearly, causing 30,000 deaths
Ø From 2000 to 2013, more than 1,100 confirmed cases were reported in the Americas
Ø Cases were reported from 13 countries in this hemisphere
Ø From 1985 to 2012, 95% of all cases in the region were reported by Peru (54%), Bolivia
(18%), Brazil (16%), and Colombia (7%).

Chikungunya
A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes

Ø Found for the first time in the Americas in December 2013

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Ø By March 2014, had spread to Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, French Guiana,
Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy, St Martin/St Maarten. Aruba has reported one
imported case
Ø More than 15,000 suspected cases have been reported in the Caribbean.

Lymphatic filariasis
A parasitic infection caused by worms and transmitted by Culexmosquitoes in the Americas

Ø Some 13.4 million people in the Americas are at risk of infection, 80% of them in Haiti
Ø Endemic in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti
Ø Guyana, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic provide mass administration of donated drugs
for the disease
Ø Brazil has eliminated it in six states, with part of the metropolitan area of Recife now the
only active area

Onchocerciasis(river blindness)
A parasitic disease transmitted by black flies

Ø Blindness from onchocersiasis has been eliminated in the Americas since 1995
Ø Colombia became the first country in the world to achieve verification of elimination of
onchocerciasis transmission in 2013.
Ø Ecuador submitted a request for verification of elimination to PAHO/WHO in 2013

West Nile virus:

Transmitted to people primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

Ø Eight in 10 people who become infected with WNV show no symptoms

Ø 286 people in the United States died of WNV in 2012 (CDC)
Ø Preliminary data for 2013 indicate over 1,200 cases of neuroinvasive disease and 114
deaths due to WNV

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Vector Borne Diseases

Tick-borne diseases
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by an arbovirus of the family Flaviviridae and is
transmitted by ticks (predominantly Ixodes ricinus) that act both as vectors and as reservoirs (35).
Similar to other vector-borne diseases, temperature accelerates the ticks’ developmental cycle, egg
production, population density, and distribution. It is likely that climate change has already led to
changes in the distribution of I ricinus populations in Europe. I ricinus has expanded into higher
altitudes in the Czech Republic over the last two decades, which has been related to increases in
average temperatures.

This vector expansion is accompanied by infections with TBE virus. In Sweden, since the late
1950s all cases of encephalitis admitted in Stockholm County have been serologically tested for
TBE. An analysis of the period 1960–98 showed that the increase in TBE incidence since the mid-
1980s is related to milder and shorter winters, resulting in longer tick-activity seasons. In Sweden,
the distribution-limit shifted to higher latitude, the distribution has also shifted in Norway and
Germany.

Sand-fly-borne diseases
Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic infection caused by Leishmania infantum that is transmitted
to human beings through the bite of an infected female sandfly. Temperature influences the biting
activity rates of the vector, diapause, and maturation of the protozoan parasite in the vector.
Sandfly distribution in Europe is south of latitude 45oN and less than 800 m above sea level,
although it has recently expanded as high as 49°N. Historically, sand-fly vectors from the
Mediterranean have dispersed northwards in the postglacial period based on morphological
samples from France and northeast Spain and sandflies have been reported today also from
northern Germany. The biting activity of European sandflies is strongly seasonal, and in most areas
is restricted to summer months. Currently, sandfly vectors have a substantially wider range than
that of L infantum, and imported cases of infected dogs are common in central and northern
Europe. Once conditions make transmission suitable in northern latitudes, these imported cases
could act as plentiful source of infections, permitting the development of new endemic foci.
Conversely, if climatic conditions become too hot and dry for vector survival, the disease may

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Vector Borne Diseases

disappear in southern latitudes. Thus, complex climatic and environmental changes (such as land
use) will continue to shift the dispersal of leishmaniasis in Europe.

Preventive measures to protect against vectors

ü Control insect vectors and the locations of their larvae by spraying with appropriate
pesticides.

ü Backfilling of ponds and marshes and disposal of waste and prevent accumulation.

ü wearing long-sleeved clothes, covering the legs in places infested with insects, and
applying insect repellents to the skin and clothing.

ü Make sure to place mesh nets with tiny holes on all windows and doors to prevent insects
from coming in.

ü Use a mosquito net if you are planning to sleep outside.

Cover water tanks tightly.

ü Remove potential water-gathering areas such as old tires, planting basins and generally
unused equipment.

ü When you spend a long time out of the house, close the toilet cover, siphon cover,
drainage holes and drains.

ü Change the water in the flower pots every two days with cleaning the pots from the
inside.

ü Remove stagnant water in the drainage channels above the roof and in the garden.

A Coordinated Strategy For Vector-Borne Threats

In 2016, Congress provided CDC with $350 million in supplemental funding to perform the critical
work needed to prevent, detect, and respond to the public health emergency posed by Zika virus.
The funding is vital to protect areas at highest risk of impact from Zika.

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Vector Borne Diseases

Building on that investment, a strong, sustained, national infrastructure for vector-borne disease is
needed. This infrastructure must advance innovation and discovery, and build comprehensive
vector programs.

Steps being taken to prepare the nation

Currently, DVBD is working on several fronts to prepare the nation. Vector-borne diseases are
named as a priority in CDC’s strategy for securing global health and America’s preparedness.
DVBD funds state, local, and territorial health departments, five Centers for Excellence in Vector-
Borne Diseases, and innovative research.

Advance innovation and discovery

As a nation, we need:

Ø Cutting edge diagnostic tools for fast and accurate detection of vector-borne infections
Ø Identification of new and emerging vector-borne diseases and increased understanding of
the magnitude of existing vector-borne threats
Ø Research and development by government, universities, and industry to develop ways to
foster new vector control technologies and monitor and prevent insecticide resistance
Ø Build comprehensive vector control programs

To build local vector control programs, we need:

Ø A skilled vector workforce that can respond to the full variety of pathogens and the vectors
that transmit them
Ø Robust state and local vector programs with expertise in laboratory, case and outbreak
investigation, and vector control that can identify and mobilize for action against existing
and emerging threats.

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Vector Borne Diseases

Reference:
ü http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/VectorDengue.htm
ü http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/vector.htm
ü https://www3.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=943
8:2014-10-vector-borne-diseases-that-put-population-americas-at-
risk&Itemid=0&lang=en#gsc.tab=0
ü https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/climate-change/climate-change-europe/vector-
borne-diseases
ü https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/climate-change/climate-change-europe/vector-
borne-diseases
ü https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases

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