Long term prevention and vector control of arboviral diseases: what does the future hold?

Abstract

Background: Arboviral diseases are a global growing problem due to climate change, urbanization, population density, and global transportation. However, new technologies currently being developed in research labs are expected to play a relevant role in combatting arboviral diseases in the future, reducing the health and economic burden imposed by these diseases. Objectives: This paper aims to anticipate the technologies that might be relevant for prevention and vector control of arboviral diseases in the future. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted of over 2,000 experts from all over the world. Both the technologies and the respondents were identified from recent scientific publications on arboviral diseases indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. Results: Our results show that within 20 years the enveloped virus-like particles-based vaccine and the gene-edited mosquitoes through CRISPR/Cas9 will likely be the most promising technologies for, respectively, prevention and vector control of arboviral diseases. Conclusions: If these expectations are confirmed, these new technologies, when fully developed, may support global public health efforts aimed at reducing transmission, mortality and morbidity of arboviral diseases.