Dengue is a product of the environment: an approach to the impacts of the environment on the Aedes aegypti mosquito and disease cases

Author(s)

Tamara Nunes Lima-Camara ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. School of Public Health. Department of Epidemiology - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia; v. 27, 2024-09-27.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dengue is an arbovirus infection whose etiologic agent is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Since the early 1980s, when the circulation of the dengue virus (DENV) was confirmed in Brazil, the disease has become a growing multifactorial public health problem. This article presented the main factors that have contributed to the frequent dengue epidemics in recent years, such as the behavior of the vector, climate change, and social, political, and economic aspects. The intersection between these different factors in the dynamics of the disease is highlighted, including the increase in the mosquito population due to higher temperatures and rainy periods, as well as the influence of socioeconomic conditions on the incidence of dengue. Some mosquito control strategies are also addressed, including the use of innovative technologies such as drones and the Wolbachia bacterium, as well as the hope represented by the dengue vaccine. Nevertheless, the need for integrated and effective public policies to reduce social inequalities and the impacts of climate change on the spread of dengue is emphasized. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/03969-1 - Insecticide resistance, sensitivity to N,N-diethylmethylbenzamide (DEET) and locomotor activity of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)
• Grantee: Tamara Nunes de Lima Camara
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants