Chikungunya fever - a new global threat
Autor(es): Montero Antonio
Resumo: The recent onset of epidemics caused by viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, Nipah, Lassa, coronavirus, West-Nile encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, human immunodeficiency virus, dengue, yellow fever - Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever alerts about the risk these agents represent for the global health. Chikungunya virus represents a new threat. Surged from remote African regions, this virus has become endemic in the Indic ocean basin, the Indian subcontinent - the southeast of Asia, causing serious epidemics in Africa, Indic Ocean Isl-s, Asia - Europe. Due to their epidemiological - biological features - the global presence of their vectors, chikungunya represents a serious menace - could become endemic in the Americas. Although chikungunya infection has a low mortality rate, its high attack ratio may collapse the health system during epidemics affecting a sensitive population. In this paper, we review the clinical - epidemiological features of chikungunya fever as well as the risk of its introduction into the Americas. We remark the importance of the epidemiological control - mosquitoes fighting in order to prevent this disease from being introduced into the Americas.
Palavras-Chave: Chikungunya; Emerging infections; Infecciones emergentes; Medicina tropical; Tropical medicine
Imprenta: Medicina Cli?nica, v. 145, n. 3, p. 118-123, 2015
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1016/j.medcle.2014.05.013
Descritores: Chikungunya Virus - Virus; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever; Chikungunya virus - Dengue; Chikungunya virus - Epidemic
Data de publicação: 2015
