Autochthonous malaria in the Municipality of Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil, from 2003 to 2010

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Malaria occurs more frequently in the interior municipalities of the Amazon Region, and autochthonous cases of the disease have been reported in some Brazilian capitals. The present study was conducted to describe the incidence and distribution of autochthonous malaria cases in the Municipality of Rio Branco, the capital of the Brazilian State of Acre. This is a retrospective study based on a historic series. A total of 5,394 cases of autochthonous malaria were reported in Rio Branco in the period from 2003 to 2010. There was a predominance of Plasmodium vivax infections (3,713 cases, 73.9% of the total), with more frequent infections being observed in men (3,268 cases, 65.1% of the total) and the 10- to 19-year age group (24.3% of the total). Rural areas accounted for 3,252 (60.3%) cases, with the Projeto de Assentamento Dirigido Padre Peixoto (Linha 3 Gleba Z I) being the most affected area. Among the urban areas, Taquari and Centro (1st District) were the most affected districts. It was concluded that there was a decreasing trend in the incidence of autochthonous malaria cases in Rio Branco. There was also a change in the infection profile, with a reduction in cases originating in rural areas, which were replaced by more cases in peri-urban localities.