Facing small ravagers and big threats in the Americas

Abstract

When some months ago, in the summer of 2015, a review of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, all mosquito-borne
viruses or arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses), the diseases they cause and their epidemiology seemed necessary, the most
important by far was dengue virus, both by incidence and mortality, in the case of hemorrhagic fever. This article review the essentials of these diseases. Further research is central to understanding the potential of these and other arboviruses that invade new geographic areas, and become important public and veterinary health problems. More knowledge is required on the viruses, their vectors and hosts, but also on climate variability and human behaviors that may impact emergence of these diseases to cope with them and improve patient care.