Cases of dengue, chikungunya and zika are in decline in Brazil. Data from the latest epidemiological bulletin released by the Ministry of Health reveals that reports of the major diseases caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito have declined considerably between January and November this year compared to the same period in 2016.
Among the three, zika saw the highest percentage of decline. According to the ministry, 16,870 cases of the disease had been registered throughout the country up to November 11 this year, a remarkable 92.1% lower than the same period of 2016 (214,126 reports). As a result, the incidence rate of zika went from 103.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2016 to 8.2 this year.
The Midwest and North regions of the country have the highest incidence rates: 38.3 and 12.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively.
As for dengue, probable reports of the disease went from 1,463,007 last year to 239,076 this year, an 83.7% drop. Reports of severe dengue have dropped by 73%, from 901 in 2016 to 243 in 2017.
Dengue cases with warning signs (shock and hemorrhage), in turn, went from 8,875 in 2016 to 2,209 in 2017, a 75% drop.
For chikungunya fever, the bulletin reports that 184,458 probable cases were reported this year, or an incidence rate of 89.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The number is 32.1% lower compared to the same period last year, when 271,637 cases were reported (131.8 cases/100,000 inhabitants).
The decreases came as the Ministry of Health intensified actions in multiple fighting fronts against Aedes aegypti outbreaks.
The funding for Health Surveillance actions (which include mosquito control) increased by 83% in recent years, from R$ 924.1 million in 2010 to R$ 1.7 billion in 2016. For this year, the health surveillance budget for the states is expected to reach R$ 1.96 billion.
Source: Brazil Gov News