The impact of COVID-19 followed by extreme flooding on vector borne diseases in Pakistan: A mini narrative review

Abstract

While the Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread havoc across the world, countries like Pakistan are faced with another challenge: the steady rise of vector borne diseases alongside a spike in COVID-19 cases. Moreover, signs and clinical manifestations of multiple arbovirus infections mimic those experienced in COVID-19, causing further complications in management and diagnosis. Without urgent adequate management and testing equipment, the recent surge of COVID-19 along with the steady rise in Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs) could collapse the exhausted Pakistani healthcare system. This article explores the impact of COVID-19 on the management, diagnosis, and treatment of the common arbovirus infections of Pakistan, including dengue (DENV), malaria, chikungunya (CHIKV), and other foreign infections that are on a hazardous rise.

Keywords

• Chikungunya
• COVID-19
• dengue
• malaria
• Pakistan
• vector-borne diseases