Abstract
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that affects more than 5,000 people per year in Brazil. The Federal District (FD) lacks epidemiological studies of human leptospirosis and presents concerning rates of this disease, especially considering its lethality. Seventy-nine autochthonous human cases of leptospirosis between 2011 and 2015 were analyzed, with the probable infection location serving as a basis for the collection and analysis of the environmental and epidemiological variables. The incidence of the disease ranged from 0.68-13.39 per 100,000 inhabitants in 21 of the 31 administrative regions that compose the FD. The local profile of human leptospirosis was predominantly associated with urban areas during the rainy season, population access to the sewage network, the treated water network, and the public garbage collection service. The vast majority of cases had a strong association with synanthropic rodents at the infection sites. In order to prevent and control potentially lethal human leptospirosis infection, the eco-epidemiological characterization of this disease is a valuable tool for public policies of prevention, control, and surveillance. In addition to population awareness, the systematized control of synanthropic rodents could be the main health action to reduce the incidence of this disease in the FD.
Highlights
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that affects more than 5,000 people per year in Brazil
Human leptospirosis is considered one of the main infectious diseases of great public health concern in the Federal District (FD) of Brazil. This analysis of the eco-epidemiological characteristics of this disease in the FD highlights the differences between other regions previously characterized as at high risk for leptospirosis in Brazil[9,14]
The incidence of leptospirosis in the evaluated period is among the highest of the Brazilian federal units[11]. This finding reinforces the need for public health policies and management in the FD regarding leptospirosis and other acute febrile diseases in addition to dengue fever, which are considered one of the most important public health issues in Brazil[4,15]
Summary
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that affects more than 5,000 people per year in Brazil. Methods: Seventy-nine autochthonous human cases of leptospirosis between 2011 and 2015 were analyzed, with the probable infection location serving as a basis for the collection and analysis of the environmental and epidemiological variables. Leptospirosis is one of the most important types of global zoonosis, affecting affecting over one million people per year, worldwide[1,2]. It is a febrile infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The common environmental risk for human leptospirosis in tropical countries, such as Brazil, is associated with poor social and hygiene conditions in rural areas, as well as the outskirts of urban areas. The vulnerable population lives and works in these areas with scarce resources, low levels of social and health care, lack of basic sanitation, and environmental factors, such
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