Synopsys of the 3rd National Congress of Tropical Medicine and 1st Lusophone Congress of Vector-Borne Diseases

Abstract

Currently, Tropical Medicine emerged as both an important medical specialty and scientific discipline assuming a preponderant global dimension. Until a few years ago, several tropical pathologies, which were exclusively associated with tropical regions, have been gradually expanding to other geographic areas previously considered free of these infections. Vectorborne diseases are included among this group of infections. Actually, Europe and the US struggle with disease outbreaks caused by pathogens primarily associated with tropical regions. In fact, the impact of vector-borne diseases in human and veterinary health is increasingly being disseminated worldwide. The Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University NOVA of Lisbon organized the 3rd National Congress of Tropical Medicine and the 1st Congress of Portuguese Speaking Countries on Vectorborne Diseases, on 20th - 21st of April, 2015, dedicated to vector-borne diseases topics. The meeting was attended by about 300 participants from Portugal, Portuguese speaking countries, and other international scientific centers. Overall, 57 oral communications and 41 posters were presented on sessions that promoted great interest and scientific discussion, about the control, elimination, as well as the challenges associated with the development of novel methodologies applied to the diagnosis and treatment of several vector-borne diseases.