Entomologist Dr. Brisola proposes actions to avoid more deaths by yellow fever

To the specialist, other viruses still must be found, as the Rocio – responsible for hundreds of deaths and paralysis in the Vale da Ribeira, during the 1970s

Urban yellow fever has returned to the national agendas after two people died of the disease. The cases, which took place in the cities of Natal (RN) and Bady Bassyt (SP), raised the debate about the actions to avoid the advance of a possible outbreak. Despite these cases seem isolated, the episodes reveal the importance of discussing new measures able to avoid new tragedies. Especially because the Aedes aegypti, most known mosquito in the country and transmitter of diseases as dengue fever, is a good vector for that disease.

To the Doctor in Entomology Carlos Brisola Marcondes, full professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), new broader studies must be developed in suspicious areas and other apparently free, as Natal.

He reminds Brazil has a multiplicity of arboviruses and great conditions for its reproduction, with the worlds largest mosquito fauna, adding up to 500 species. Despite this great variety, researchers with experience in mosquito taxonomy and other vectors are, each time more, rarer.

The young have no stimulation to learn this, because in Brazil, only molecular biology has future and funding. These people, mostly retired or nearly retired, form the downstairs, and are discouraged and unsupported, said the researcher.

To change this picture, Doctor Marcondes suggests a national survey of specialists able to collect, identify and study mosquitoes and other vectors. Besides this, he proposes the organization of training workshops to identify mosquitoes and cooperate to verify the presence of arboviruses in mosquitoes and vertebrates. Other proposition is to develop surveys and surveillance in the most susceptible places for yellow fever, not only in the Center-West and states from the Amazon, but also at least in western half the Northeastern, Southeastern and South states.

He stresses that training these people does not only mean to present the Aedes aegypti or a Culex , but to give conditions to identify mosquitoes from several genera, learning morphology and using keys; it would be convenient to perform workshops in several institutions and States, at least 40 hours in length.

It is fundamental to verify whether the Aedes aegypti is still significantly present in those places where the yellow fever virus was found, because, although the transmission is more difficult than dengue, there is a risk for outbreaks with possible deaths, he explains.

From this surveillance, the entomologist suggests the immunization of the most exposed populations in those places where the yellow fever virus is found, plus more severity controlling the Aedes aegypti. Sylvatic mosquitoes must be collected and assessed for infection by the virus, with special attention to Haemagogus and Sabethes.

To the specialist, other viruses must also be searched, as the Rocio – responsible for hundreds of deaths and permanent paralysis in the Vale da Ribeira region, between São Paulo and Paraná States, during the 1970s. [Rocio] is present among horses in at least four states in the Country (Silva et al, 2014), east equine encephalitis, Saint Louis, West Nile, and others.…