SPATIAL DYNAMICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN RABIES IN RIVERSIDE POPULATIONS IN THE AMAZON

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2025-03-25

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Abstract

Human rabies is a highly lethal anthropozoonosis caused by the bite or lick of wild and domestic animals infected by Rhabdoviridae, of the Lyssavirus genus. In the rural and riverside areas of the northern region, bats of the D. rotundus species are the most important vectors, establishing a major risk factor for outbreaks of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of human rabies and its possible environmental risk factors and public health policies in the municipality of Melgaço, state of Pará, in 2018. This cross-sectional and ecological study used data from the Pará State Health Department, the MapBiomas Project, the National Register of Health Establishments and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out using the chi-square test of equal expected proportions with a p-value <0.05, as well as spatial analysis using the kernel technique. The epidemiological profile showed a higher occurrence in men (60%), children (90%), brown people (100%), those with primary education (12%), rural dwellers (100%) and with information on anti-rabies vaccination (70%), aggressor species (75%) and death (60%) ignored.  Only the variables age group, education level and species of aggressor were statistically significant. The spatial distribution of cases was inhomogeneous and showed a relationship of spatial dependence with low health coverage and a significant level of anthropization in areas close to the affected riverside communities. In view of the above, there is a need to intensify actions to monitor and control the disease, with a view to mitigating its occurrence.

KEYWORDS: human rabies, epidemiology, spatial analysis, public health

How to Cite

Costa de Souza, B., da Conceição Rodrigues do Nascimento Maia, D. M., Alves da Silva, L., Esther Pierre, M., Bezerra Dias, H., Silva do Nascimento, L., … do Socorro Carvalho Miranda, C. (2025). SPATIAL DYNAMICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN RABIES IN RIVERSIDE POPULATIONS IN THE AMAZON. Interfaces Científicas - Saúde E Ambiente, 10(1), 147–158. Retrieved from https://periodicos.grupotiradentes.com/saude/article/view/12491