Arbovirus: Public Health Experience from Zambia

Arboviruses have become significant causes of public health problems with potential for epidemics and unprecedented spread. Large epidemics have occurred and will continue to occur unless we remain extremely vigilant, respond promptly, and have more to offer than isolation and quarantine. Arboviral diseases include the West Nile virus, Yellow fever and dengue, among others. These viruses have caused wide-spread morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa as well as worldwide. The changing epidemiology of arboviruses, the changing virulence of arboviruses, increased vector population responsible for transmission of diseases, the growing population sizes and rapid urbanization cause changes in equilibrium of vectors and hosts, thus, increasing chances of outbreaks and epidemics. Therefore, a constant watch on the pattern of arboviral diseases through surveillance is inevitable. In this book, we present public health experiences from Zambia.