Brazil towards malaria elimination

A time-series analysis of imported cases from 2007 to 2022

Bibliographic Data

ID19594496
AuthorsKlauss Kleydmann Sabino Garcia (0000-0003-2268-8742, Universidade de Brasília, corresponding author), Gabriel Zorello Laporta (0000-0001-7412-9390, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, corresponding author), Seyi Soremekun (0000-0002-5531-0220, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Christian Bottomley (0000-0002-5241-8412, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Amanda Amaral Abrahão (0000-0002-7537-7561, Universidade de Brasília, corresponding author), Gilberto Gilmar Moresco (0000-0002-3532-7295, Ministério da Saúde, corresponding author), Chris Drakeley (0000-0003-4863-075X, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Anielle de Pina Costa (Universidade Federal Fluminense, corresponding author), André Machado De Siqueira (0000-0003-2208-0294, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, corresponding author)
EditorsAmy Kristine Bei
Year2024
Volume4
Issue10
Pagese0003822
Publication date2024-10-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003822
PMID39392834
OpenAlexW4403320190
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited35

Malaria is a global health challenge, and international efforts are underway to alleviate its impact by 2035. Within the 249 million global cases, 0.6 million occur in the Americas, mainly in Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia. Considering Brazil’s geographical proximity to malaria-endemic countries in South America, this study objective is to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and time trends of imported malaria cases in Brazil from 2007 to 2022, discussing their influence on the elimination process. This is an ecological time-series study that analyses malaria imported cases (infected in other countries) notified in Brazil, from 2007 to 2022. Brazil’s Ministry of Health data were used. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze sociodemographic and spatial patterns, while the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on imported malaria trends was assessed using Prais-Winsten regression methods. In the study period there was a total of 109,914 imported cases (2.6% of Brazil’s total malaria burden). There was an annual reduction of 515.3 cases (p = 0.001) prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemics there was an overall reduction of -3,301.8 cases (p = 0.001). In the Amazon region P . vivax imported infections predominated, whereas in the extra-Amazon region P . falciparum imported infections were more prevalent. Most imported cases were males (67.8%), of Black ethnicity (47.5%), with incomplete primary education (45.1%), aged 20–39 (61.1%), and primarily gold miners (54.0%). Most cases are from French Guiana (31.7%), Venezuela (30.0%), and Guyana (17.9%). African nations, notably Angola and Nigeria, were primary sources of imported cases to the extra-Amazon region. The imported cases flux, predominantly from Latin America, threatens Brazil’s elimination goals by potentially reintroducing the disease into previously cleared areas and sustaining the transmission in endemic areas. Strengthening epidemiological surveillance at the borders and fostering international cooperation are imperative steps in addressing this challenge

Amazon rainforest · Biology · Christian ministry · Disease · Environmental health · Environmental protection · Geography · Malaria · Pandemic · Plasmodium falciparum · Plasmodium vivax · Political science · Socioeconomics · Tropical medicine · Demography · Malaria Research and Control · Medicine · Mosquito-borne diseases and control · Parasites and Host Interactions · Ecology · Epidemiology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access