Preface

*Vector-Borne Diseases - Recent Developments in Epidemiology and Control reviews* many new developments in the study of diseases spread by arthropod vectors. Any group of writers that hopes to adequately address such a topic must represent a diverse group from a geographically dispersed area; the scientists and health workers who wrote this book are such a group. They address the impact of vectorborne diseases for humans and livestock in Africa, the effects of insecticide on entomological inoculation rates in Ethiopia, the effects of viral infection on the primary vector of Zika and dengue in South America, and the potential of certain chemical structures in the treatment of disease. The authors hail from Africa, India, North America and other places, so this book includes a variety of cultures and writing styles, just like the vulnerable populations that suffer from vectorborne infections. This broad presentation of expertise seems overwhelming, yet the continuously evolving disease threat can only be addressed with rapid development of technology and effective sharing of knowledge. The emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne diseases illustrates the need for such knowledge.

In recent years, Zika appears to have taken on a greater measure of pathology and then spread out of its usual confines in Africa to present a disease threat through much of the tropical and some of the temperate parts of the world. Previously thought to be a relatively mild, self-limiting illness, Zika is now known to have devastating effects on children. This example demonstrates the ever-changing threat due to vector-borne diseases, though it may seem like a distant threat to some observers. Such is not the case for other infections. In recent years, two tick-borne viruses capable of causing severe illness, even death, have emerged in the very central part of the United States. The emergence of these tick-borne viruses in the heart of a developed country demonstrates how little is really known about these disease agents. The reality is that there may be hundreds of vector-borne viral diseases still to be detected and described to the medical community.

This book is just a small attempt to share some of the important work going on in the study of vector-borne diseases. It represents a broad slice of research developments, some of which may contribute to new treatments or new methods of disease control. Perhaps ready access to information contained here will contribute to improved care or disease prevention for someone in the world. That is the hope of the authors of the chapters in this book.

#### **David Claborn, DrPH**

Master of Public Health Program, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, USA

> **Sujit Bhattacharya** University of Calcutta, India

**Syamal Roy** National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, India

**1**

Section 1

Introduction to

Vector-Borne Disease Risk

Section 1
