What is a Vector-Borne Disease?
Infectious diseases transmitted by pathogens. Vectors are insects that carry various disease-causing microorganisms such as mosquitoes, ticks and flies. Reproductive rates of resistant insects are affected by climate and weather. Such diseases are widespread and found throughout the world.
More than 700,000 patients die from infectious diseases. Major infectious diseases account for approximately 17% of infectious diseases worldwide.
The poorest tribes in tropical and subtropical regions are most susceptible to such diseases. Malaria is probably one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. Let’s look at the different vectors and the diseases they spread.
Types of Disease Vectors
| Vectors | Diseases | Causative organisms |
|
Mosquitos
|
Chikungunya | Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) |
| Dengue | Dengue virus (DENV) | |
| Zika fever | Zika virus | |
| Yellow fever | Yellow fever virus | |
| Filariasis | Filarioidea | |
| Rift Valley fever | Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) | |
| Malaria | Plasmodium | |
| West Nile fever | West Nile Virus | |
| Tse-tse Flies | African trypanosomiasis | Trypanosoma brucei |
|
Lice
|
Typhus | Rickettsia prowazekii |
| Louse-borne relapsing fever | Borrelia recurrentis | |
|
Sandflies
|
Leishmaniasis | Leishmania |
| Phlebotomus fever | Phlebovirus | |
|
Ticks
|
Lyme disease | Borrelia burgdorferi |
| Tick-borne encephalitis |
Tick-borne encephalitis virus
|
|
| Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever | Nairovirus | |
| Relapsing fever | Borrelia | |
| Rickettsial disease | Rickettsia |
Prevention of Vector-borne Diseases
- Vaccines must be designed to protect against the viruses that cause disease.
- Insect repellents such as DEET or Permethrin can be applied to skin and clothing.
- Contact with dogs, cats, cattle and mice should be checked for ticks.
- Use a net while sleeping to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
- Wash and dry your clothes after a long walk outside.
- Remove leaf litter and wood piles from the room.
- Do not store standing water around.
- Use antibiotics to fight insect-borne infections.
National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme
The National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) is the largest organization for the prevention and control of these six infectious diseases – malaria, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis.
The organization has its headquarters in New- Delhi, India. The NVBDCP Board provides cash and goods to the states to implement policies to control these diseases.
The department is a unit under the Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India. It has technical advisers and specialists in bacteriology, entomology and public health.
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