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Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Venezuela as a Regional Public Health Threat in the Americas.

ABSTRACT: Venezuela's tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hyperinflation rates now exceed 45,000%, and Venezuela's health system is in free fall. The country is experiencing a massive exodus of biomedical scientists and qualified healthcare professionals. Reemergence of arthropod-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases has sparked serious epidemics that also affect neighboring countries. In this article, we discuss the ongoing epidemics of measles and diphtheria in Venezuela and their disproportionate impact on indigenous populations. We also discuss the potential for reemergence of poliomyelitis and conclude that action to halt the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases within Venezuela is a matter of urgency for the country and the region. We further provide specific recommendations for addressing this crisis.

SUBMITTER: Paniz-Mondolfi AE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6433037 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Venezuela as a Regional Public Health Threat in the Americas.

Paniz-Mondolfi Alberto E AE Tami Adriana A Grillet Maria E ME Márquez Marilianna M Hernández-Villena Juan J Escalona-Rodríguez María A MA Blohm Gabriela M GM Mejías Isis I Urbina-Medina Huníades H Rísquez Alejandro A Castro Julio J Carvajal Ana A Walter Carlos C López María G MG Schwabl Philipp P Hernández-Castro Luis L Miles Michael A MA Hotez Peter J PJ Lednicky John J Morris J Glenn JG Crainey James J Luz Sergio S Ramírez Juan D JD Sordillo Emilia E Llewellyn Martin M Canache Merari M Araque María M Oletta José J

Emerging infectious diseases 20190417 4

Venezuela's tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hyperinflation rates now exceed 45,000%, and Venezuela's health system is in free fall. The country is experiencing a massive exodus of biomedical scientists and qualified healthcare professionals. Reemergence of arthropod-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases has sparked serious epidemics that also affect neighboring countries. In this article, we discuss the ongoing epidemics of measles ...[more]

PMID: 30698523

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Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Venezuela as a Regional Public Health Threat in the Americas.

Publications

Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Venezuela as a Regional Public Health Threat in the Americas.

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