Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia

Background: Chagas disease (CD) is transmitted by vectors but can also be transmitted orally through contaminated food, drinks, or meat. The One Health perspective aims to understand the complex interaction between human, animal, and environmental health in controlling disease. This study analyzed r...

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Main Authors: Mario J. Olivera, Claudia Yaneth Rincón Acevedo, Antonio José Olivera, Sergio Mendez-Cardona, Mauricio Javier Vera Soto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Science in One Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949704324000052
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author Mario J. Olivera
Claudia Yaneth Rincón Acevedo
Antonio José Olivera
Sergio Mendez-Cardona
Mauricio Javier Vera Soto
author_facet Mario J. Olivera
Claudia Yaneth Rincón Acevedo
Antonio José Olivera
Sergio Mendez-Cardona
Mauricio Javier Vera Soto
author_sort Mario J. Olivera
collection DOAJ
description Background: Chagas disease (CD) is transmitted by vectors but can also be transmitted orally through contaminated food, drinks, or meat. The One Health perspective aims to understand the complex interaction between human, animal, and environmental health in controlling disease. This study analyzed risk factors and drew lessons from past outbreaks of orally transmitted CD to develop effective preventive strategies. Methods: A simultaneous mixed methods study was conducted. The study consisted of two phases: an ecological epidemiological analysis at the municipal level using secondary data spanning from 1992 to 2023, and semistructured interviews with health providers and policymakers at the national level in Colombia. The results from both phases were triangulated to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Results: A total of 64 outbreaks, infecting 302 individuals, were reported. Most of these outbreaks (89.2%) were classified as family-related, and they occurred most frequently during the months of April to June (46.6%). It is worth noting that a significant number of these outbreaks took place in municipalities that lacked vector control plans. Risk factors for oral transmission included the location of food preparation, poor housing quality, food preparation water source, the presence of vectors/marsupials, forest type, and climatic variables. Interviews conducted emphasized the importance of implementing outbreak plans and providing staff training to effectively address the issue. Conclusion: A One Health approach strengthening prevention, surveillance, case management and cross-sectoral collaboration is needed to control outbreaks and reduce transmission in Colombia. Preparedness plans and education of health professionals are also important. This study identified modifiable risk factors to guide public health interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-e7ea7eecdcfe46dc84b750668c7f3b102025-08-20T02:50:26ZengElsevierScience in One Health2949-70432024-01-01310006610.1016/j.soh.2024.100066Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in ColombiaMario J. Olivera0Claudia Yaneth Rincón Acevedo1Antonio José Olivera2Sergio Mendez-Cardona3Mauricio Javier Vera Soto4Grupo de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Salud de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, D.C., Colombia; Corresponding author. Grupo de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Calle 26 N° 51-20, Bogotá 1111321, D.C., Colombia.Dirección de Vigilancia y Análisis del Riesgo en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, D.C., ColombiaDepartamento de Psicología, Corporación Universitaria del Caribe, Sincelejo, 700001, ColombiaGrupo de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, D.C., Colombia; Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USADirección de Promoción y Prevención, Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Bogotá 110311, D.C., ColombiaBackground: Chagas disease (CD) is transmitted by vectors but can also be transmitted orally through contaminated food, drinks, or meat. The One Health perspective aims to understand the complex interaction between human, animal, and environmental health in controlling disease. This study analyzed risk factors and drew lessons from past outbreaks of orally transmitted CD to develop effective preventive strategies. Methods: A simultaneous mixed methods study was conducted. The study consisted of two phases: an ecological epidemiological analysis at the municipal level using secondary data spanning from 1992 to 2023, and semistructured interviews with health providers and policymakers at the national level in Colombia. The results from both phases were triangulated to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Results: A total of 64 outbreaks, infecting 302 individuals, were reported. Most of these outbreaks (89.2%) were classified as family-related, and they occurred most frequently during the months of April to June (46.6%). It is worth noting that a significant number of these outbreaks took place in municipalities that lacked vector control plans. Risk factors for oral transmission included the location of food preparation, poor housing quality, food preparation water source, the presence of vectors/marsupials, forest type, and climatic variables. Interviews conducted emphasized the importance of implementing outbreak plans and providing staff training to effectively address the issue. Conclusion: A One Health approach strengthening prevention, surveillance, case management and cross-sectoral collaboration is needed to control outbreaks and reduce transmission in Colombia. Preparedness plans and education of health professionals are also important. This study identified modifiable risk factors to guide public health interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949704324000052Chagas diseaseDisease outbreaksFoodborne diseasesOral transmission
spellingShingle Mario J. Olivera
Claudia Yaneth Rincón Acevedo
Antonio José Olivera
Sergio Mendez-Cardona
Mauricio Javier Vera Soto
Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia
Science in One Health
Chagas disease
Disease outbreaks
Foodborne diseases
Oral transmission
title Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia
title_full Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia
title_fullStr Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia
title_short Addressing Chagas disease from a One Health perspective: risk factors, lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in Colombia
title_sort addressing chagas disease from a one health perspective risk factors lessons learned and prevention of oral transmission outbreaks in colombia
topic Chagas disease
Disease outbreaks
Foodborne diseases
Oral transmission
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949704324000052
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