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Background: Human activities, such as urbanization and climate change, have facilitated the spread of arbovirus-carrying vectors, disproportionately affecting vulnerable traditional Indigenous communities. Objective: To explore the relationships between subclinical myocardial dysfunction, assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS), and comprehensive arbovirus serology in an Indigenous population, while also describing the serological and epidemiological profile of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Methods: This ancillary study is part of the first phase (2016–2017) of the Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations (PAI), a cross-sectional study involving participants from two Indigenous communities with different degrees of urbanization and a highly urbanized city in Northeast Brazil. We assessed the seroprevalence of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses in the Fulni-ô Indigenous community, the less urbanized and most traditional group. Additionally, we explored the relationship between these viruses and subclinical heart disease, assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived GLS. Results: One hundred seventy-four participants were included, with a median age of 45.0 years (interquartile range 38.0–55.0). The majority were female (58.6%; n = 102). The prevalence of anti-ZIKV IgG was 95.3%; anti-DENV IgG was 85.8%, and anti-CHIKV IgG was 70.9%. GLS abnormalities were detected in nearly half (48.3%) of the cohort. However, no significant association was found between arbovirus serology and GLS. Conclusions: The findings reveal a high prevalence of positive serology for arboviruses and a significant rate of subclinical cardiac dysfunction. There was no significant association between reduced left ventricular longitudinal strain and positive arbovirus serology, likely due to the limited number of participants with indications of acute contact with the viruses studied. However, the unprecedented and relevant results of this study are noteworthy, as they address critical public health issues, particularly in vulnerable populations. Further research is needed to explore these findings in more depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a reduction in vaccination coverage of children and adolescents was observed in several countries. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic, in the first two years, on human rotavirus vaccine (HRV) coverage in Brazil compared with previous years. The number of doses of HRV administered in the period from January 2015 to December 2021 and its annual vaccination coverage were analyzed. The vaccination coverage decreased to 77.3% in 2020 and to 70.4% in 2021, substantially lower than the minimum that would be expected (89.2%); the decline was more pronounced in the second year of the pandemic despite the fact that in this period, the circulation restrictions were already less tight. Of the five Brazilian macro-regions, the northeast had the largest decline, and the south had the smallest impact on coverage. At the municipal level, less than half of the Brazilian municipalities managed to achieve vaccination coverage above 90% in either pandemic year. Although there was already a downward trend in coverage in the pre-pandemic years, the present study shows that the values recorded in 2020 and 2021 were significantly lower. Monitoring of vaccination coverage in the coming years should be carried out continuously in order to avoid a possible resurgence of rotavirus-induced diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Schistosomiasis is a persistent public health problem in Brazil. Regardless advances in diagnosis and mass treatment, schistosomiasis has a severe impact on morbimortality in the country and remains a neglected tropical disease. Herein, we assessed the basic and associated causes of schistosomiasis-related deaths and the temporal and spatial patterns of mortality from the disease in Brazil between 1999 and 2018. Methods We conducted an ecological and time series study. The segmented log-linear regression model was applied to assess time trends, considering all deaths recorded in the category B65/ICD-10. Additionally, we elaborated maps of mortality rates from schistosomiasis in Brazil. Results A total of 4168 schistosomiasis-related deaths were recorded in Brazil in this period, as an associated cause. Time trend analysis revealed an increase in the average age of deaths from schistosomia- sis (annual percentage change (APC) = 0.84), and stable trend in Brazil (APC = 0.31). Concerning schistosomiasis-related deaths, we observed disorders related to the digestive system, liver diseases, septicemias, and chronic diseases. Surprisingly, there were deaths caused by non-endemic Schistosoma species in Brazil. Also, municipalities from non-endemic areas in Brazil presented schistosomiasis-related deaths. Conclusion Altogether, our analyses demonstrated that schistosomiasis remains a significant cause of death in Brazil, and it is increasing in some areas, especially in the Northeast region. Additionally, women and the elderly showed a stable time trend of deaths. Thereby, it urgently requires improvements in the control programs strategies, in the sense of an effective reduction in cases and deaths from the disease in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study was to analyze trends in the tuberculosis mortality rate in Brazil (1990-2015) in an ecological time-series analysis. The indicators were obtained from the Brazilian National Ministry of Health. A joinpoint regression model was applied for the temporal analysis, with a level of significance of 5%. During the period in question, there was a trend toward a reduction in mortality in the country as a whole (p < 0.001) and in each of its five regions. The states with the highest tuberculosis mortality rates were Rio de Janeiro (7.0/100,000 population) and Pernambuco (5.0/100,000 population). Eleven states and the Federal District of Brasília showed downward trends. Only the state of Alagoas showed a significant increase (p < 0.001). The temporal behavior observed indicates that tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its association with severe pneumonia and deaths has exposed gaps in the health systems of several countries worldwide. Although the necessary focus has been to care for hospitalized patients, the strengthening of Primary Health Care (PHC) actions is necessary. PHC is the gateway to the health system in several countries, including Brazil and it plays a role in preventing, protecting, promoting, and treating individuals and communities. Brazil, like other countries, has faced the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As Brazil has a universal and decentralized health system, in which PHC has been the model of health re-organizing the health system; here we reflected the importance of strengthening PHC in Brazil in the times of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is a country with great agricultural production and this economic activity is rising in the last decade. Thus, we have observed an increase in the number of rural workers and also in the growth of pesticide poisoning cases. An epidemiological study, ecological, observational and retrospective was conducted using the population of cases of exogenous pesticide poisoning occurred / reported in agricultural workers, livestock and related services in the state of Bahia, in the period between 2007 and 2011. It was reported 696 occurrences in agricultural workers, livestock and related services in Bahia, with a concentration of cases in the North and West of state. The most affected public is composed of men aged 20-49 years. There was a trend for lower education. Suicide had led the causes of poisoning by pesticides. Noteworthy that exposure occurred both in the workplace and in homes (40.1% each), with clinical evolving to cure without sequelae. It was concluded that, during the study period, despite the increase in the number of places offered in the agriculture sector in Bahia, there was, comparatively, higher growth notifications exogenous poisonings pesticide (84%) in the number of jobs (18 %). Failures in the records of the information was an element that stood out, often, damaging epidemiological analyzes of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infectious and parasitic diseases (IPDs) encompass a broad range of illnesses predominantly associated with poverty. They are more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, including Brazil, where they continue to be among the leading causes of mortality., Objective: This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of mortality due to IPDs in Brazil from 2000 to 2019., Methods: We conducted an ecological study using data on mortality by IPDs from the Brazilian Mortality Information System. We applied the segmented log-linear regression model to assess temporal trends. For spatial analysis, we used the local empirical Bayesian estimator and Moran indices. Retrospective spatiotemporal scan statistics were performed using the Poisson Probability Distribution Model., Results: Between 2000 and 2019, there were 2,155,513 deaths related to IPDs in Brazil. The leading causes of death included acute respiratory infections ( n  = 1,130,069; 52.49%), septicemia ( n  = 289,817; 13.46%), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( n  = 232,892; 10.82%), tuberculosis ( n  = 104,121; 4.84%), and neglected tropical diseases such as Chagas disease ( n  = 94,788; 4.40%) and schistosomiasis ( n  = 10,272; 0.48%). An increasing temporal trend in the mortality rate from IPDs was observed in Brazil and across all its regions. Additionally, our spatiotemporal scan identified high-risk clusters of death in the Southeast and Northeast regions., Conclusion: Mortality from IPDs remains a significant public health concern in Brazil, with an increasing trend observed in all regions. Our findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive intersectoral public policies. These policies should focus on a greater allocation of resources and investments in the most critical areas, aiming to significantly reduce the number of deaths, particularly in the most vulnerable regions., (© The Author(s), 2025.)

Background: In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "post-2015 End TB strategy", that aims to end the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted global public health and the strict measures to control the coronavirus spread can affect the management of other diseases, such as TB. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of TB in Brazil, during 2020. Methods: We carried out an ecological and population-based study, using spatial analysis techniques. The variables used were the new cases of TB, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and also baciloscopy-positive (BP) cases in Brazil between 2015 and 2020. The percentage of changes (% change) was calculated to verify if there was an increase or decrease of TB cases in 2020, along with time trend analyses given by Joinpoint regression model. Also, interrupted time series analyses were used to assess the trend of TB diagnosis before and after the onset of the COVID-19 in Brazil. Spatial distribution maps were elaborated, considering the % change of each Brazilian state. Findings: Data analyses showed a reduction in the diagnosis of TB (-8.3%) and PTB (-8.1%) in Brazil after the irruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, 22 states depicted a reduction in TB diagnosis. An expressive reduction of BP cases (-17.1%) was also observed. Interestingly, interrupted time series analysis showed decline in TB and PTB diagnoses from March 2020. Spatial analyses revealed that all states had a progressive reduction of TB, PTB and PB cases, from March on, with the highest percentages of reduction in December (-100% to -75%). Interpretation: Taken together, our analyses demonstrated a reduction in TB diagnosis after the irruption of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and its regions, signaling a serious impact on the WHO "End TB Strategy" global plan., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Souza, Paz, Sales, Jesus, Tavares, Lima, Sousa, Melo, Carmo, Souza and Bezerra-Santos.)

Background: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, able to infect large numbers of people. This work is relevant to Juazeiro-BA, a hyper-endemic area for leprosy, since unravel the behavior of the disease in the area, may suggest the decision making for sectors of surveillance, establishing strategies, organizing and evaluating programs and services., Objectives: To analyze the epidemiology of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012., Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted based in data of the Diseases Notification System, assigned by the service of Epidemiology from Juazeiro-BA, between 2002 and 2012., Results: 1,916 new cases of leprosy were detected between 2002 and 2012, of which 921 (48.07%) represented male sex, 995 (51.93%) female, and there was a reduction in the incidence rate of leprosy per 100,000 inhabitants. Most carriers were brown individuals, with low levels of education, living in the urban area, being more prevalent in the economically active age group. Through statistical analysis we found that there are more chances of developing sequelae among men, and multibacillary individuals older than 45 years., Conclusions: The work serves to direct efforts to control this disease, and highlights the importance of active search for new cases to achieve an early diagnosis, reducing the number of sequels and allowing breaking the chain of disease transmission.