Abstract
Dengue infection is a zoonotic disease caused by Dengue virus, a single-strand RNA flavivirus. It is transmitted to humans through primarily Aedes aegypti (mosquito) bites. The disease prevalence is higher in tropical zones where there are high humidity and temperature as well as unplanned urbanization. According to the WHO, more than 100 tropical countries are afflicted by Dengue infection, leading to severe economic impact. Brazil is currently a major hotspot of Dengue infection. The number of infected people with dengue virus increased 240% in the first trimester of 2015 compared to the same period last year, surpassing the WHO estimative. In an attempt to stop the infection from spreading, the Brazilian Health Ministry has increased the budget to nearly $50 million to combat the vector. However, the bureaucracy of the Brazilian government has led to slow release of the allocated money to the affected cities and the results have been catastrophic. To make the situation worse, the slow diagnosis and the subsequent delay in starting the treatment has led to increased mortality rates. Currently, the only treatment available for Dengue infection is supportive, which is not very efficient against the most severe cases such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).
Citation
Silveira ELV. Dengue Virus Infection: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives. SM Vaccine Vaccin. 2015;1(1):1001.