Viral and parasitic infections of the nervous system: Impact on resource-limited healthcare systems and suggestions on how to address them

Abstract

Affecting every country to some degree, disparities in healthcare access are a global challenge. Healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are, however, particularly fragile and more vulnerable to the unpredictable demands that arise from both natural and man-made disasters. Resource availability in the healthcare systems of LMICs is often inconsistent and, in many cases, insufficient to meet the needs of the local population. One major health concern in LMICs is the high burden of parasitic and viral infections of the nervous system, illnesses that cause significant morbidity and mortality. Over the past 50 years, several LMICs in tropical and subtropical regions have experienced an emergence, re-emergence, or upswing in arthropod-borne viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Herein we propose a series of practical and universally applicable solutions aimed at both reducing healthcare demand and strengthening at-risk healthcare systems in LMICs.