GEO Brasil - UNEP

the state of the environment in Brazil
Table 3 - Evolution of the incidence rate of dengue cases registered in
Brazil, per region, in the 1980s and 1990s (per 100,000 hab.).
Regions 1980/84 1985/89 1990/94 1995/99
North 152.68 0 21.56 607.63
Northeast 0 117.34 174.74 1661.84
Southeast 0 161.73 187.82 618.07
South 0 0 0 56.38
Central West 0 0 155.49 820.17
Source: MS/FUNASA - 2001
Table 4 - Evolution of the incidence rate of malaria registered in Brazil,
per region, in the 1980s and 1990s (per 100,000 inhabitants).
Regions 1980/84 1985/89 1990/94 1995/99
North 14406.2 23085.1 17943.8 19110.4
Northeast 327.1 640.7 297.8 353.5
Southeast 21.0 36.7 14.1 6.0
South 3.9 80.3 41.9 10.0
Central West 1242.7 1942.5 20650.0 22140.0
Source: MS/FUNASA - 2001
period Actually, this geographically unequal distribution relates to the
particularities of these diseases’ dynamics More specifically, and in what concerns
the vectors involved, they have entirely different biological characteristics and
behavioural habits In the case of dengue, the environmental crisis in the regions
that were most affected has allowed the proliferation and dispersion of its vector,
Aedes aegypti, which has exclusively urban habits; while in the case of malaria, the
disorganised occupation has been promoting the multiplication of its vector, Anopheles
darlingi, which uses large collections of clear water as its main breeding sites
Although there was an increase in the
incidence of these diseases, there was
also a greater capacity to recognise and
register these illnesses due to an
improved epidemiological surveillance
system This improvement is the result
of the decentralisation and extension
of basic services, in addition to the
dissemination of information through
communication means, also
contributing to a better comprehension
of the scenario of communicable
diseases in the country Nonetheless,
it is alarming to note the prevalent
medicalisation of health issues, where
promoting health is still considered
less important than taking care of
complaints and agony
In terms of communicable diseases,
on the other hand, it should also be
noted that there was a substantial
reduction of diseases that can be
controlled through precise actions, by
means of immunisations (Table 5)
The elimination of poliomyelitis
transmission, the drastic reduction in
the incidence of measles, tetanus –
including neonatal - whooping cough,
among others, were significant
victories achieved by the Health
System in recent years
Table5-Timeevolution of some infectious diseases that are preventable by means of immunisation, registered
in Brazil, in the 1980s and 1990s.
Doença 1980/84 1985/89 subtotal 1990/94 1995/99 subtotal
Whooping cough 188282 87172 275454 37222 9538 46760
Diphtheria 18050 6675 24725 1908 623 2531
Poliomyelitis 1656 1278 2934 0 0 0
Human rabies 630 243 873 275 136 411
Measles 338420 321026 659446 114560 5911 173671
Accidental tetanus 6574 9538 16112 6644 4223 10867
Neonatal tetanus 1892 2348 4240 1188 462 1650
Source: MS/FUNASA - 2001
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