Seminário de Biomatemática

14 de Outubro 2008, 16h00

Dengue and Yellow fever: dynamics and control of two closely related arboviral diseases sharing vectors and hosts
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, sala Theano

Claudia Codeco (CMAF/Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian)

Abstract:

Yellow fever and dengue fever belong to the class of flavivirus diseases, a group that also includes west nile, japanese encephalitis and many other (emerging) nasty diseases. These viruses are transmitted by arthropods (mosquitoes and/or ticks) in sylvatic and/or urban cycles. In the sylvatic cycle, humans are often accidental hosts, in the urban cycle, they are the main ones.

Dengue fever is currently the most prevalent flavivirus disease, endemic in tropical America, Africa and Asia. Recent theoretical developments suggest that environmental and immunological factors are important for the coexistence of its four serotypes. In Brazil, three serotypes coexist since their arrival in the 80-90's. Yellow fever, on the other hand, is considered a scourge of the past. Since mid-XXs, after strong vaccination effort and vector control, the urban cycle of the yellow disease was eradicated from the Americas. In Africa, due to low vaccination coverage, YF is still an important cause of mortality.

In this presentation, I will present the results of mathematical models that address the conditions for the reemergence of urban Yellow Fever in non-vaccinated, dengue endemic areas, of Brazil and the complex public health dilemma that it poses.

At last, I will present my current interests towards a more integrated approach to understanding the dynamics of these two closely related diseases.

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