Chikungunya virus transmission in the Southernmost state of Brazil was characterized by self-limited cases (2017–2019) and a larger 2021 outbreak
Author:
Gregianini Tatiana Schäffer, Salvato Richard Steiner, Barcellos Regina Bones, Godinho Fernanda Marques, Ruivo Amanda Pellenz, de Melo Viviane Horn, Schroder Júlio Augusto, Martiny Fernanda Letícia, Möllmann Erica Bortoli, Favreto Cátia, Baethgen Ludmila Fiorenzano, Ferreira Vithoria Pompermaier, de Lima Lívia Eidt, Piazza Cláudia Fasolo, Machado Taís Raquel Marcon, Becker Irina Marieta, Ramos Raquel Rocha, Frölich Guilherme Carey, Rossetti Alana Fraga, Almeida Lucas da Cunha, Rodrigues Tahiana Machado Antunes, Bragança Isabella Tabelli, Campos Aline Alves Scarpellini, Manzoni Verônica Baú, Machado Lais Ceschini, da Silva Luisa Maria Inácio, de Oliveira André Luiz Sá, Paiva Marcelo Henrique Santos, Nunes Zenaida Marion Alves, de Almeida Paula Rodrigues, Demoliner Meriane, Gularte Juliana Schons, da Silva Mariana Soares, Filippi Micheli, Pereira Vyctoria Malayhka de Abreu Góes, Spilki Fernando RosadoORCID, da Veiga Ana Beatriz GoriniORCID, Wallau Gabriel Luz
Abstract
AbstractChikungunya is a reemerging arthropod-borne virus that has been causing large outbreaks in the Americas. In Brazil, Asian-Caribbean and ECSA genotypes have been detected and lead to large outbreaks in several states since 2014. In Rio Grande do Sul (RS), the southernmost State, the first autochthonous cases were reported in 2016. We employed genome sequencing and epidemiological investigation to characterize the increasing CHIKF burden in RS between 2017– 2021. Distinct lineages of the ECSA genotype were responsible for human infections between 2017–2021. Until 2020, CHIKV introductions were most travel associated and transmission was limited. Then, in 2021, the largest outbreak occurred in the state associated with the introduction of a new ECSA lineage. New CHIKV outbreaks are likely to occur in the near future due to abundant competent vectors and a susceptible population, exposing more than 11 million inhabitants to an increasing infection risk.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
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