Resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Venezuela as a regional public health threat in the Americas

Paniz-Mondolfi, A. E. et al. (2019) Resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Venezuela as a regional public health threat in the Americas. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25(4), pp. 625-632. (doi: 10.3201/eid2504.181305) (PMID:30698523) (PMCID:PMC6433037)

Abstract

Venezuela’s tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hyperinflation rates now exceed 45,000%, and Venezuela’s health system is in free fall. The country is experiencing a massive exodus of biomedical scientists and qualified healthcare professionals. Reemergence of arthropod-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases has sparked serious epidemics that also affect neighboring countries. In this article, we discuss the ongoing epidemics of measles and diphtheria in Venezuela and their disproportionate impact on indigenous populations. We also discuss the potential for reemergence of poliomyelitis and conclude that action to halt the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases within Venezuela is a matter of urgency for the country and the region. We further provide specific recommendations for addressing this crisis.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Llewellyn, Professor Martin and Schwabl, Philipp and Hernandez Castro, Mr Luis
• Authors: Paniz-Mondolfi, A. E., Tami, A., Grillet, M. E., Márquez, M., Hernández-Villena, J., Escalona-Rodríguez, M. A., Blohm, G. M., Mejías, I., Urbina-Medina, H., Rísquez, A., Castro, J., Carvajal, A., Walter, C., López, M. G., Schwabl, P., Hernández-Castro, L., Miles, M. A., Hotez, P. J., Lednicky, J., Morris, J. G., Crainey, J., Luz, S., Ramírez, J. D., Sordillo, E., Llewellyn, M., Canache, M., Araque, M., and Oletta, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• ISSN: 1080-6040
• ISSN (Online): 1080-6059
• Published Online: 30 January 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Emerging Infectious Diseases 25(4): 625-632
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License