Abstract:
Emerging and re-emerging mosquito-borne viral diseases are a threat to global health. This
systematic review aimed to investigate the available evidence of mosquito-borne viral pathogens
reported in Zambia. A search of literature was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar for
articles published from 1 January 1930 to 30 June 2020 using a combination of keywords. Eight
mosquito-borne viruses belonging to three families, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae and Phenuiviridae were
reported. Three viruses (Chikungunya virus, Mayaro virus, Mwinilunga virus) were reported among
the togaviruses whilst four (dengue virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus) were
among the flavivirus and only one virus, Rift Valley fever virus, was reported in the Phenuiviridae
family. The majority of these mosquito-borne viruses were reported inWestern and North-Western
provinces. Aedes and Culex species were the main mosquito-borne viral vectors reported. Farming,
fishing, movement of people and rain patterns were among factors associated with mosquito-borne viral infection in Zambia. Better diagnostic methods, such as the use of molecular tools, to detect
the viruses in potential vectors, humans, and animals, including the recognition of arboviral risk
zones and how the viruses circulate, are important for improved surveillance and design of effective
prevention and control measures.
