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Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, zika, and leishmaniasis, represent a global public health challenge. This study aimed to understand the impact of socioeconomic, environmental, and healthcare access variables on the incidence of infectious diseases from 2012 to 2021, investigating patterns and correlations. Variables analyzed included the number of healthcare facilities, average income, population size, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and accumulated deforestation. Multiple linear regression and correlations were used, with data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Dengue showed a strong correlation with GDP, the number of healthcare facilities, and deforestation. Chikungunya was associated with population, GDP, and deforestation. Zika showed correlations with population growth and deforestation. Leptospirosis was negatively influenced by healthcare facilities and GDP, while hantavirus infection was inversely related to population growth and healthcare facilities. Leishmaniasis had positive correlations with GDP, healthcare facilities, and deforestation. This study reveals complex interactions between socioeconomic, environmental, and health variables in the incidence of infectious diseases. Understanding these patterns is crucial for formulating effective public policies, highlighting the need for integrated and holistic strategies in the control and prevention of these diseases.

Objective. To summarize the results of research conducted in Costa Rica in which mathematical and statistical methods were implemented to study the transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne diseases. Methods. Three articles with mathematical and statistical analysis on vector-borne diseases in Costa Rica were selected and reviewed. These papers show the value and relevance of using different quantitative methods to understand disease dynamics and support decision-making. Results. The results of these investigations: 1) show the impact on dengue case reports when a second pathogen emerges, such as chikungunya; 2) recover key parameters in Zika dynamics using Bayesian inference; and 3) show the use of machine learning algorithms and climatic variables to forecast the dengue relative risk in five different locations. Conclusions. Mathematical and statistical modeling enables the description of mosquito-borne disease transmission dynamics, providing quantitative information to support prevention/control methods and resource allocation planning.

Ascogregarina species are protozoa that belong to the phylum Apicomplexa and parasitize several species of invertebrates, including some important mosquito species involved in transmitting arboviruses, such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. The most frequent gregarine species reported for mosquitoes are Ascogregarina culicis, A. taiwanensis and A. barreti, which have Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Ae. triseriatus as natural hosts, respectively. Studies have shown that parasitism by some Ascogregarina species can negatively influence the biological development of mosquitoes and that this influence depends on their environmental distribution. In this review, we revise the distribution of Ascogregarina species in several countries and discuss how these parasites influence the development of mosquitoes and could possibly be used as a mosquito control.

Traditional strategies, based on insecticides and individual behaviors, have not been shown as sufficient in the control of diseases related to Aedes aegypti. Insights on Popular Education in Health that go beyond biomedical aspects and include social, economic and political factors must be considered in this control and be present in the training of professionals in the area. In this work, the health education conceptions of Biological Sciences students from two public universities were investigated, at the beginning and at the end of graduation, through questionnaires regarding strategies to control vector-borne diseases and the role of the Sciences/Biology teacher on health promotion. Most answers included sanitary education and the valuing of monitoring, awareness and prevention measures against mosquito breeding sites. Few responses included notions of popular education in the demand for changes in society and the guarantee of human rights such as basic sanitation, a balanced environment and health services. The view of the teacher as a transmitter of knowledge prevailed, and not as a motivator for dialogues, who articulates the issue of dengue with the social determinants of health. The focus on sanitary education in the conception of students raises insights on the need for further studies on popular education in the training of biologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for education and health of the Brazilian population has been thoroughly discussed in all walks of the government. At the federal level was launched the PET – Health/HS program. This program has several projects and one of them aimed to guide and educate people for prevention of diseases transmitted by insects and caused by microorganism, besides informing about the proper handling of garbage in an attempt to prevent proliferation of infectious and parasitic diseases associated with those vectors in the municipality of Divinópolis–MG. Health education was based on didactic lectures, distribution of folders, play educational videos, and photo exhibitions. Health education was based on: didactic lectures, distribution of brochures, educational videos and photo exhibitions. Activities were important and transmitted a message to make people conscious, aiming at reducing the number of cases of diseases related to vectors and proper waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with problems that are specific to the health sector and ones associated with issues of sustainability, programmes for the control of vector-borne diseases are increasingly resorting to environmental management measures to reduce populations of disease vectors as pan of an integrated control approach. The broader problems on the interface between environment and development that need to be addressed in the context of vector control include accelerated development of natural resources, demographic changes in rural populations and rapid urbanization. Disease vectors need to be recognized as biological risk factors to human health in the environment, and for a sustainable implementation of vector control measures, these should be made an integral pan of the development process. This requires modifications in the policy framework, expansion of our knowledge base, development of operational methods and techniques and a shift in emphasis in training and education.Devido a problemas específicos do setor saúde, bem como a problemas associados a questões de manutenção, os programas para o controle de doenças transmitidas por vetores estão cada vez mais retornando à adoção de práticas de manejo ambiental para reduzirem populações de vetores, como parte de uma abordagem de controle integrada. Os problemas mais gerais advindos da interface entre ambiente e desenvolvimento que necessitam ser abordados no contexto do controle de vetores incluem a acelerada exploração de recursos naturais, mudanças demográficas em populações rurais e a rápida urbanização. Os vetores de doenças devem ser reconhecidos como fatores biológicos de risco no ambiente para a saúde humana. Para uma implementação sustentável das medidas de controle de vetores, estes aspectos devem fazer parte do processo de desenvolvimento. Isto requer modificações na formulação de políticas, aumento da nossa base de conhecimento acerca destes processos, desenvolvimento de métodos e técnicas operacionais, assim como uma maior ênfase em treinamento e educação.