Abstract
This study analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of cases of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Maranhão in the period from 2000 to 2009. Based on the number of reported cases, thematic maps were prepared to show the evolution of the geographical distribution of the disease in the state. The MCMC method was used for estimating the parameters of the Bayesian model for space-time identification of risk areas. From 2000 to 2009 there were 5389 reported cases of visceral leishmaniasis, distributed in all 18 Regional Health Units in the state, with the highest indices in the cities of Caxias, Imperatriz, Presidente Dutra and Chapadinha. The Regional Health Units with the highest relative risks per biennium were: Caxias and Barra do Corda (2000-2001), Imperatriz and President Dutra (2002-2003), Imperatriz and Caxias (2004-2005), Presidente Dutra and Codó (2006-2007) and Imperatriz and Caxias (2008-2009). There was considerable geographic expansion of visceral leishmaniasis in Maranhão, thus highlighting the need to adopt more effective measures for prevention and control of the disease in the state.
Highlights
Visceral Leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem that is widely prevalent in the world
It is currently amongst the seven endemics considered to be a priority in relation to health actions in the world. It is on the list of neglected tropical diseases that should be eradicated by 2015 according to the World Health Organization (WHO)[1,2]
Brazil accounts for 90% of the LV cases in Latin America and it is considered the country with the third highest rates of the disease in the world[3]
Summary
Visceral Leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem that is widely prevalent in the world. It is currently amongst the seven endemics considered to be a priority in relation to health actions in the world. It is on the list of neglected tropical diseases that should be eradicated by 2015 according to the World Health Organization (WHO)[1,2]. Brazil accounts for 90% of the LV cases in Latin America and it is considered the country with the third highest rates of the disease in the world[3]. Between 1980 and 2008 70 thousand cases of LV were registered in the country which resulted in the deaths of more than 3,800 people[4,5]
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