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Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Global and Local Burden, Surveillance,...
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Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Global and Local Burden, Surveillance, and Response Strategies

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 3435

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco Del Riccio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: infectious diseases; epidemiology; vaccines; public health; communication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carla Maia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: phlebotomine sand fly-borne pathogens: epidemiology; diagnosis; vector-pathogen-host interactions; vector-borne agents with zoonotic or veterinary importance
Dr. Claudia Cosma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: vector-borne diseases; global health; vaccines; artificial intelligence; health promotion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging and re-emerging diseases, amplified by the increasingly rapid evolution of factors such as globalisation, urbanisation, migration and travel, represent a growing burden on global public health, not only for humans, but also for animals, with significant impacts on global economies being made as a result. Pathogens that emerge for the first time in a population, or that spread rapidly after having been under control, pose an evolving threat, making the development of coordinated and effective preventive strategies and interventions essential.

Recent examples of emerging diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2 and Monkeypox, together with re-emerging diseases, such as certain arboviruses, avian influenza or oropouche fever, highlight the need for coordinated international surveillance and timely response to these global threats.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the complexity of these diseases, analysing recent developments, trends and case studies both locally and globally. Contributions may range from new discoveries on emerging pathogens to changes in disease patterns and factors favouring the return of previously under-control infections. It will be focused on epidemiological studies, innovative control and prevention strategies and the impacts of several factors such as climate change, urbanisation and migration.

The ultimate goal of this collection is to create a platform for dialogue between researchers, health professionals and policymakers, promoting collaborations and effective strategies to mitigate the impact of these diseases locally and globally.

Dr. Marco Del Riccio
Dr. Carla Maia
Dr. Claudia Cosma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
  • viruses
  • bacteria
  • parasites
  • health emergency
  • health preparedness
  • global and local surveillance
  • global and local prevention
  • global and local control

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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12 pages, 657 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Dynamics and Trends of Dengue Outbreaks in Sao Tome and Principe: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis (2022–2024)
by Sousa Lazaro, Vilfrido Santana Gil, Ivando Carvalho Viegas de Ceita, Isaulina Neto Viegas Barreto, Eula Carvalho Batista Sousa Maquengo, Andreza Batista de Sousa, Bakissy da Costa Pina, Tieble Traore, Alimuddin Zumla and John Otokoye Otshudiema
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10020034 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Background: Dengue has emerged as a significant public health concern in Sao Tome and Principe, with the first documented outbreak occurring between 2022 and 2024. This study examined the epidemiological patterns, environmental determinants, and demographic characteristics of dengue transmission during this period. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Dengue has emerged as a significant public health concern in Sao Tome and Principe, with the first documented outbreak occurring between 2022 and 2024. This study examined the epidemiological patterns, environmental determinants, and demographic characteristics of dengue transmission during this period. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive retrospective analysis of laboratory-confirmed dengue cases using national surveillance data, clinical records, and environmental monitoring data. Statistical analyses included demographic profiling, temporal trend assessment, and environmental correlation studies using multiple regression modeling. Results: Among 1264 laboratory-confirmed cases, we observed distinct age-specific vulnerability patterns, with the highest incidence rate in the 70–79 age group (829.6 per 100,000) despite most cases occurring in younger adults. Rainfall emerged as the strongest predictor of dengue transmission (r = 0.96, p < 0.001), explaining 92% of case variance in the regression model. Case distribution showed marked temporal variation, with 91.9% of cases reported in 2022, coinciding with exceptional rainfall (3205 mm). The overall case fatality rate was 0.71% (95% CI: 0.33–1.35), with significant quarterly variations. Geographical analysis revealed concentration in the Água Grande district (68.2% of cases). Conclusions: This first comprehensive analysis of dengue in Sao Tome and Principe demonstrates the crucial role of rainfall in disease transmission and reveals important age-specific vulnerability patterns. These findings provide an evidence base for developing targeted interventions, particularly during high-rainfall periods, and suggest the need for age-stratified clinical protocols in similar island settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Global and Local Burden, Surveillance, and Response Strategies)
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15 pages, 518 KiB  
Article
Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: Risk Factors for Mortality in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
by Kristina Černiauskienė and Astra Vitkauskienė
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10010015 - 6 Jan 2025
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Abstract
Background and objectives: Due to resistance and the lack of treatment options, hospital-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections are associated with high mortality. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of patients with infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and patients’ clinical [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Due to resistance and the lack of treatment options, hospital-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections are associated with high mortality. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of patients with infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and patients’ clinical outcomes as well as determine the risk factors for mortality in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study including 196 adult patients with A. baumannii strains isolated from different clinical specimens in the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021 was conducted. Data on patients’ characteristics, comorbid diseases, treatment, length of hospital and ICU stay, and outcome were collected. Carbapenemase-producing isolates were detected phenotypically. To determine risk factors for in-hospital mortality, logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: There were 60 (30.6%) women and 136 (69.4%) men with a mean age of 61.7 ± 16.6 years (range, 52–74). More than three-fourths (76.5%, n = 150) of the patients had at least one comorbid disease. The highest number of A. baumannii strains were isolated from patients hospitalized in ICUs (43.4%, n = 85). A. baumannii strains producing three types of β-lactamases were more frequently isolated from women than men (77.8% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.006). Infections caused by A. baumannii strains producing two types of β-lactamases were significantly more often treated with combination therapy than infections caused by strains producing one type of β-lactamase (78.9% vs. 60.0%, p = 0.019). Patients with A. baumannii strains producing two different types of β-lactamases (AmpC plus KPC, AmpC plus ESBL, or ESBL plus KPC) stayed significantly shorter at the ICU compared to patients with A. baumannii strains with no detected β-lactamases (median of 9, IQR 2–18, vs. median of 26, IQR 7–38, p = 0.022). Death occurred in 58.7% (n = 115) of patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that a duration of the effective antibiotic treatment of ≤6 days, invasive mechanical ventilation, combination therapy, aged >58 years, and the absence of co-infection were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: MDR A. baumannii infections pose a significant threat to human health not only due to multidrug resistance but also due to high mortality. The mortality rate of patients with MDR A. baumannii infection was high and was associated with age, invasive mechanical ventilation, the duration of effective antibiotic treatment, no co-infection, and combination therapy. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to reduce the prevalence of MDR A. baumannii infections in healthcare facilities by applying preventive measures and to administer timely effective treatment once A. baumannii infection is detected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Global and Local Burden, Surveillance, and Response Strategies)
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16 pages, 1881 KiB  
Article
From Paper to Digital: Performance and Challenges of the Electronic Hepatitis B Surveillance System in Ninh Binh, Northern Vietnam (2017–2022)
by Hien T. Nguyen, Thai Q. Pham, Duc M. Hoang, Quang D. Tran, Giang T. Chu, Thuong T. Nguyen, Nam H. Le, Huyen T. Nguyen, Khanh C. Nguyen and Florian Vogt
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(12), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120299 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1827
Abstract
Hepatitis B remains a major public health issue in Vietnam. Mandatory reporting to the national electronic communicable disease surveillance system (eCDS) has been required since July 2016. We conducted an evaluation of the hepatitis B surveillance system in Ninh Binh, the province with [...] Read more.
Hepatitis B remains a major public health issue in Vietnam. Mandatory reporting to the national electronic communicable disease surveillance system (eCDS) has been required since July 2016. We conducted an evaluation of the hepatitis B surveillance system in Ninh Binh, the province with the highest reported burden of hepatitis B in Northern Vietnam, between 2017 and 2022. Using the CDC’s guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems, we assessed four key attributes: simplicity, timeliness, data quality, and acceptability. This retrospective evaluation included document reviews, analysis of hepatitis B data, and in-depth interviews with provincial-level healthcare staff involved in the reporting of hepatitis B cases. The results showed that the eCDS improved reporting frequency, provided more detailed case information, and enhanced data accessibility compared to the previous paper-based system. However, the system faced several challenges, including unclear objectives, difficulties in distinguishing acute from chronic cases, insufficient training for staff, lack of supervision for data quality, and technical software issues. Despite these challenges, stakeholders found the system acceptable but emphasized the need for improvements, including revising the system’s objectives, automating case classification, enhancing training, securing funding for maintenance, and implementing regular data review processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Global and Local Burden, Surveillance, and Response Strategies)
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