Epidemiology of the emerging arboviruses in the Americas with focus in Argentina

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a synthesis of the epidemiological situation in the Americas of dengue, chikungunya and Zika, particularizing in the Argentine situation. The review was based on the scientific literature as well as on the reports of national and international official organizations.

Increased incidence, severity and lethality of dengue; the spread of the chikungunya epidemic to 46 countries in 3 years with more than 2.3 million cases reported, the emergence of the Zika virus and its association with the unusual increase in cases of microcephaly and other brain malformations, as well as the increase in neurological syndromes such as Guillain-Barré in several countries of the region, evidence that emerging arboviruses in America constitute a large and complex problems for the public health of Americans.

The situation in Argentina in recent years forces one to assume that outbreaks of one or more of these arboviruses a mayor stairs may occur in the future.
Therefore, it will be necessary to take this information into account in order to: strengthen the actions of prevention and control of diseases transmitted by Aedes in the country; strengthen the capacities of health services for the treatment of acute illness as well as its complications, severe forms and sequelae; strengthen surveillance systems for adequate monitoring of the epidemiological situation.