Vector-borne diseases

Approximately 80% of the world's population is at risk of one or more vector-borne diseases⁵, with the highest burden in tropical and subtropical regions, disproportionately affecting impoverished communities. This creates a cycle where poverty and these diseases exacerbate each other.⁶

Dengue is spread by Aedes mosquitoes and is the most common mosquito-borne viral infection, with the incidence dramatically increasing.⁷ Roughly half the world's population is at risk, with an estimated 100–400 million infections yearly. The WHO estimates 50 to 100 million cases annually, about 96 million symptomatic, and around 40,000 deaths.⁷

Zika infected 1.5 million people in Brazil in 2015-2016, declining to under 100,000 global cases per year. It's mainly in the Americas, with about 30,000 reported cases in 2023. Transmission can also occur through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from mother to fetus. While most have mild or no symptoms, infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects.⁸

Chikungunya puts 1.3 billion people in 110 countries at risk. In 2023, there were 500,000 cases and 400 deaths reported globally. Symptomatic cases often involve severe, prolonged joint pain. Treatment focuses on symptom relief, and a new vaccine has been approved in some regions.⁹

West Nile is present in various parts of the world. In 2023, the USA reported 2,406 cases and EU/EEA 709. Most West Nile virus (WNV) infections are asymptomatic, but less than 1% can develop serious neurological issues. Treatment is supportive.¹⁰

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a major global health issue with an estimated 249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly in young children. It's endemic in over 80 countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.¹

Lyme disease, a tick-borne bacterial infection, is common in parts of the US, Europe, and Asia. Over 600,000 people may be diagnosed and treated annually in the US alone, with a global prevalence affecting about 14% of the population. Untreated, it can cause severe complications.^11-13

Chagas disease affects an estimated 6–7 million people globally, causing over 10,000 deaths yearly, with over 100 million at risk, mainly in Latin America. Often asymptomatic initially, it can lead to severe heart or gastrointestinal problems years later.^14,18

Factors like urbanization, population density, human mobility, water issues, and climate change contribute to the spread of these vector-borne diseases.¹

• Overlapping symptoms in many vector-borne diseases, like dengue, complicate diagnosis based solely on clinical presentation, especially where multiple such diseases coexist.
• Limited access to medical facilities, particularly in rural areas with an underdeveloped healthcare infrastructure, contributes to underreporting¹
• Diagnostic tests need improved sensitivity and specificity, faster turnaround times, and the ability to simultaneously detect multiple flaviviruses (like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya). Flavivirus cross-reactivity particularly affects the accuracy of antibody tests. Undetected or delayed diagnosis can worsen outcomes and increase mortality and morbidity. Timely diagnosis is crucial for effective disease management and preventing severe complications.
• A lack of awareness regarding disease warning signs can delay healthcare-seeking, which is critical for reducing mortality from severe cases.¹
• Continuous training for healthcare workers is necessary. Regulatory hurdles and economic limitations in some regions can hinder the widespread adoption of advanced diagnostic tools.

Roche's comprehensive portfolio of advanced diagnostic solutions directly addresses these challenges by enabling accurate and timely detection of vector-borne diseases, even in cases with overlapping symptoms. By providing tools for improved sensitivity, specificity, and optimized lab workflow, Roche contributes to better patient management, increasing the efficiency and enabling consistent traceability of the results to avoid underreporting or manual errors.

Global outbreak support

Roche’s global reach enables labs to rapidly scale their response to emerging threats—crucial for reducing infection rates and protecting blood supplies. This was demonstrated during several outbreaks:

• Babesia: In May 2019, the FDA issued updated industry guidance recommending blood donor screening for Babesia microti to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. In response, Roche began screening blood for Babesia—a milestone in improving transfusion safety in affected U.S. regions.^20,21
• Zika: When Zika virus emerged in Puerto Rico in 2016, Roche’s assay became the first FDA-authorized commercial Zika test.²² Roche supported local labs by addressing high-throughput needs, reducing turnaround times, and improving preparedness for future outbreaks.
• Chagas disease: As Trypanosoma cruzi—the parasite responsible for Chagas disease—spreads globally, donor screening for T. cruzi antibodies is critical, particularly in endemic regions.²³ Roche provides reliable tests to help prevent transmission through transfusion or organ transplantation.

Targeted testing for regional risks

Blood-borne parasites like Babesia and T. cruzi present significant challenges in specific regions. Roche’s donor screening tests are tailored to address these localized threats, safeguarding both donors and recipients.

Ensuring long-term safety through innovation

Roche’s IVD solutions support a safe and sustainable blood supply. As pathogens continue to evolve, continuous innovation and the integration of advanced automation enable future-ready labs to improve efficiency and minimize manual handling in donor testing.

Roche is a trusted partner, driven by diagnostic innovation and continuous investment in R&D. Our commitment to outbreak control is rooted in proactive surveillance, responsive assay development, and scalable access to reliable diagnostics that strengthen health systems worldwide.

• Proven legacy in diagnostics innovation since 1968, enabling precise diagnosis and informed treatment decisions
• Over 100,000 diagnostic systems deployed globally,²⁴ supporting scalable access to reliable testing infrastructure
• The Global Surveillance Program actively monitors emerging infectious diseases to ensure assays remain effective against new variants
• Extensive portfolio of over 60 CE-IVD assays and over 200 research-use assays from TIB Molbiol enables rapid response to evolving threats²⁵