Vector-Focused Approaches to Curb Malaria Transmission in the Brazilian Amazon: An Overview of Current and Future Challenges and Strategies

Galizi, Roberto

Abstract

In Brazil, malaria transmission is mostly confined to the Amazon, where substantial progress has been achieved towards disease control in the past decade. Vector control has been historically considered a fundamental part of the main malaria control programs implemented in Brazil. However, the conventional vector-control tools have been insufficient to eliminate local vector populations due to the complexity of the Amazonian rainforest environment and ecological features of malaria vector species in the Amazon, especially Anopheles darlingi. Malaria elimination in Brazil and worldwide eradication will require a combination of conventional and new approaches that takes into account the regional specificities of vector populations and malaria transmission dynamics. Here we present an overview on both conventional and novel promising vector-focused tools to curb malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. If well designed and employed, these new vector-based approaches may improve the implementation of malaria-control programs, particularly in remote or difficult-to-access areas and in regions where existing interventions have been unable to eliminate disease transmission. However, much effort still has to be put on research expanding the knowledge of neotropical malaria vectors to set the steppingstones for the development of such innovative tools.</jats:p>

Citation

Matos Rocha, E., de Melo Katak, R., Campos de Oliveira, J., da Silva Araujo, M., Cechetto Carlos, B., Galizi, R., …A. Souza-Neto, J. (2020). Vector-Focused Approaches to Curb Malaria Transmission in the Brazilian Amazon: An Overview of Current and Future Challenges and Strategies. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 161. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed5040161

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 13, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 20, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 30, 2023
• Journal: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
• Print ISSN: 2414-6366
• Publisher: MDPI
• Pages: 161
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed5040161
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/5/4/161