Resumen

RUA-URIBE, Guillermo L.; SUAREZ-ACOSTA, Carolina del Rosario  y  ROJO, Raúl Alberto. Epidemiological implications of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.3, pp.328-337. ISSN 0120-386X.

Aedes albopictus, a mosquito species from Southeast Asia, is considered an important vector of dengue in some countries of that continent. It is also a vector of viruses and parasites causing diseases such as yellow fever, encephalitis, and filariasis. The presence of this mosquito in different cities of our country poses challenges for the control of diseases such as dengue.OBJEECTIVE: to analyze the relevant aspects of this vector's biology along with its importance in human health while providing suggestions for vector control. METHODOLOGY: a literature review was performed using the PUBMED and MEDLINE databases and an appropriate search strategy. As a result of this, 83 documents were selected.RESULTS: Aedes albopictus has shown rapid distribution in Colombia since it was first recorded in the Amazon in 1998, and is now present in several cities. Additionally, the biology of the vector favors the establishment of this species in sites whose eco-epidemiological conditions are suitable for the transmission of dengue and urban yellow fever. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of Ae. Albopictus in Colombia poses new challenges in public health because this species has been suggested as a competent vector in the experimental transmission of a wide variety of arboviruses. Moreover, it has also been found naturally infected with the dengue virus (serotypes 1 and 2) in our country.

Palabras clave : dengue; yellow fever; arboviruses; epidemiology; public health; vector control.

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