Mosquito-borne diseases: Assessing risk and strategies to control their spread in the Middle East

Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs), like malaria and mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs), have caused the deaths of millions of people. Their threat resides in the variety of transmission modes that they possess, along with the wide selection of favorable hosts, such as humans, cattle, and rodents. MBDs are increasingly gaining a reputation as one of the most dangerous threats to public health in recent years. Mosquito numbers have been increasing in recent years as a result of multiple factors such as climate change and deforestation. This situation highlights the urgent need for actions to mitigate mosquito and MBD pathogen distributions. In the Middle East, many outbreaks of MBDs have been reported in the region. However, there are no reports of any endemic episodes of MBDs. The Middle East has faced many challenges over the years; however, the Syrian refugee crisis may be strongly related to the spread of infectious diseases. As mass gatherings and high-density populations are common features in the region, it is possible to understand why MBDs can spread easily. This review summarizes the state of MBDs in the Middle East, highlighting the different types of MBDs that have been reported in the region and discussing how to move forward with controlling their spread and limiting the risks they pose. According to the data reported by the electronic State Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting Tool (e-SPAR), the capacity to anticipate MBVs varies among Middle East countries. Therefore, the Middle East is on the frontline in the challenge to control a potential public health crisis. Consequently, the countries of the Middle East should be encouraged to improve their health and research capacities to mitigate the threat posed by MBDs.