About this Research Topic

Background

COVID-19 poses unique threats to regions where tropical diseases are endemic. Many of these regions are resource limited and plagued by poorer underlying health. Local experience with other emerging and re-emerging infections may inform strategies to mitigate impact of COVID-19, which may interact with tropical diseases in ways that affect transmission, severity or long-term impacts of both COVID-19 and the tropical disease. Furthermore, tropical diseases may also impact vaccine efficacy. Public health policy should be informed by evidence, particularly evidence that is most relevant to the local environment. Regions with tropical diseases need evidence about the interaction between COVID-19 and endemic diseases in order to develop effective health policy.

This Research Topic seeks to provide information that will inform COVID-19 public health policy in regions endemic for tropical diseases. Experience related to other locally relevant diseases (e.g. dengue, Ebola, cholera, HIV) in resource limited settings will be shared so that it can be applied to COVID-19. Data on the interaction of COVID-19 and tropical diseases will be sought on topics including: epidemiology, disease severity, short and long-term outcomes, management approaches, preventive and therapeutic pharmaceuticals, and non-pharmaceutical measures. Through the information collected in this supplement, the editors will develop core recommendations upon which public health programs to address COVID-19 can be based.

For this Research Topic, we are interested in manuscripts covering the following themes:

- Perspectives from International Governments: Manuscripts should provide details about how an epidemic was addressed in a country with endemic tropical diseases. Lessons learned and suggestions on preparing for and addressing future epidemics, including policy recommendations, should be included.

- Studies on COVID in the Context of Other Infections: (e.g. dengue, parasites and HIV) that impact disease course, pathogenicity and response to preventives and therapeutics. Diagnostic or testing algorithms for endemic diseases are of interest, particularly in the context of COVID.

- Incorporation of Preventive Measures: Articles may address vaccine roll-out, effect of endemic co-infection on vaccine administration and impact of concurrent roll-out with other vaccines.

- Evidence Based Recommendations: Recommendations for COVID-19 management in the setting of tropical diseases, diagnosis in resource limited settings, and how decisions on incorporation of therapeutics based on available or new evidence. Articles could describe public health approaches that incorporate social science and community engagement.

Keywords: COVID-19, Tropical Diseases, Health Policy, Prevention, Resource limited setting

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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