The adoption of the One Health approach to improve surveillance of venomous animal injury, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Abstract

Public health institutions with sectorized structure and low integration among field teams, old-fashioned practices such as paper-based storage system, and poorly qualified health agents have limited ability to conduct accurate surveillance and design effective timely interventions. Herein, we describe the steps taken by the Zoonosis Control Center of Foz do Iguaçu (CCZ-Foz) in the last 23 years to move from an archaic and sectorized structure to a modern and timely surveillance program embracing zoonotic diseases, venomous animal injuries, and vector-borne diseases epidemiology under the One Health approach. The full implementation of the One Health approach was based on 5 axes: (1) merging sectorized field teams; (2) adoption of digital solutions; (3) health agents empowerment and permanent capacitation; (4) social mobilization; and (5) active surveys. By doing so, notifications related to zoonotic diseases and venomous animals increased 10 and 21 times, respectively, with no impairment on arbovirus surveillance (major concern in the city). Open sources database (PostgreSQL) and software (QGis) are daily updated and create real-time maps to support timely decisions. The adoption of One Health approach increased preparedness for endemic diseases and reemerging and emerging threats such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Entomo-virological surveillance followed by serological active survey of symptomatic individuals is helpful to identify hotspots of early arbovirus transmission

“…The city of Foz do Iguaçu has started the implementation of a one health approach to improve vector-borne diseases surveillance in 2009. The adopted approach is based on 5 axes: ( 1 ) merging sectorized field teams; ( 2 ) adoption of digital solutions; ( 3 ) health agent empowerment and permanent capacity building; ( 4 ) social mobilization; and ( 5 ) active surveys ( 37 ). This manuscript belongs to the area of active survey.…”

Entomo-Virological Aedes aegypti Surveillance Applied for Prediction of Dengue Transmission: A Spatio-Temporal Modeling Study

“…Among several adult mosquito traps designed for capturing Ae. aegypti , each one with their pros and cons, the Adultrap is the one used in Foz do Iguaçu [ 22 , 23 , 33 ]. The most important drawback faced by this strategy is that detection of potentially infected mosquitoes is limited to the six times per year each trap is inspected.…”

Rapid and Non-Invasive Detection of Aedes aegypti Co-Infected with Zika and Dengue Viruses Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

“…Taken together, our results are encouraging to continue evaluating the potential role of NIR to improve arboviruses surveillance in endemic settings. Thus, next steps should involve collection of semi-field or field data to move further with estimating the potential role that NIRS might have in arboviruses surveillance systems [ 17 , 18 ].…”

“…Arbovirus surveillance is a key element in early warning systems for epidemics as rapidly identifying and responding to outbreaks is critical for vector control strategies [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. However, current surveillance systems most commonly rely on notifications of human infections following diagnosis by molecular assays such as Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), which can be performed on only a small fraction of suspected cases [ 19 , 20 ].…”