Amazonian rainforest loss and declining malaria burden in Brazil

Laporta, Gabriel Zorello

doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(18)30243-2

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…In contrast, the correlation was positive and statistically significant in Acre. Mechanistically, this pattern can be related to the frontier malaria concept [28] and the extension of this concept model by Baeza et al [33], but it is also related to other works that state the importance of forest cover in malaria incidence in Amazon [24, 35, 36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

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Comparison of malaria incidence rates and socioeconomic-environmental factors between the states of Acre and Rondônia: a spatio-temporal modelling study

Padilha

Melo

Romano

et al. 2019

Malar J

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Background Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a threat to public health, but Plasmodium vivax malaria is most prevalent in Latin America, where the incidence rate has been increasing since 2016, particularly in Venezuela and Brazil. The Brazilian Amazon reported 193,000 cases in 2017, which were mostly confirmed as P. vivax (~ 90%). Herein, the relationships among malaria incidence rates and the proportion of accumulated deforestation were contrasted using data from the states of Acre and Rondônia in the south-western Brazilian Amazon. The main purpose is to test the hypothesis that the observed difference in incidence rates is associated with the proportion of accumulated deforestation. Methods An ecological study using spatial and temporal models for mapping and modelling malaria risk was performed. The municipalities of Acre and Rondônia were the spatial units of analysis, whereas month and year were the temporal units. The number of reported malaria cases from 2009 until 2015 were used to calculate the incidence rate per 1000 people at risk. Accumulated deforestation was calculated using publicly available satellite images. Geographically weighted regression was applied to provide a local model of the spatial heterogeneity of incidence rates. Time-series dynamic regression was applied to test the correlation of incidence rates and accumulated deforestation, adjusted by climate and socioeconomic factors. Results The malaria incidence rate declined in Rondônia but remained stable in Acre. There was a high and positive correlation between the decline in malaria and higher proportions of accumulated deforestation in Rondônia. Geographically weighted regression showed a complex relationship. As deforestation increased, malaria incidence also increased in Acre, while as deforestation increased, malaria incidence decreased in Rondônia. Time-series dynamic regression showed a positive association between malaria incidence and precipitation and accumulated deforestation, whereas the association was negative with the human development index in the westernmost areas of Acre. Conclusion Landscape modification caused by accumulated deforestation is an important driver of malaria incidence in the Brazilian Amazon. However, this relationship is not linearly correlated because it depends on the overall proportion of the land covered by forest. For regions that are partially degraded, forest cover becomes a less representative component in the landscape, causing the abovementioned non-linear relationship. In such a scenario, accumulated deforestation can lead to a decline in malaria incidence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Landscapes near natural conservation units (e.g., federal forests and indigenous reserves) are generally represented by settlements with intermediate forest cover and present a high risk of malaria incidence [35]. The variation in malaria incidence associated with changes in forest cover (100–0%) can be depicted by a convex curve [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of malaria incidence rates and socioeconomic-environmental factors between the states of Acre and Rondônia: a spatio-temporal modelling study

Padilha

Melo

Romano

et al. 2019

Malar J

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“…However, malaria seems to be the main disease linked to gold mining [11,24,25]. Indeed, gold mining favors the proliferation of malaria vectors through deforestation, although this can be reversed in the event of massive deforestation by destroying the ecosystem of certain vectors [20,[25][26][27]. Different species of Anopheles incriminated in malaria transmission are found in gold mining areas, mainly A. darlingi, A. marajoara, A. nuneztovari, and A. albimanus [5,20,28].…”

Section: Gold Mines In the Amazon: Context And Health Impact Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Malaria in Gold Miners in the Guianas and the Amazon: Current Knowledge and Challenges

et al. 2020

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Purpose of Review Following Paraguay and Argentina, several countries from the Amazon region aim to eliminate malaria. To achieve this, all key affected and vulnerable populations by malaria, including people working on gold mining sites, must be considered. What is the situation of malaria in these particular settings and what are the challenges? This literature review aims to compile knowledge to answer these questions. Recent FindingsThe contexts in which gold miners operate are very heterogeneous: size and localization of mines, links with crime, administrative status of the mines and of the miners, mobility of the workers or national regulations. The number of malaria cases has been correlated with deforestation (Brazil, Colombia), gold production (Colombia), gold prices (Guyana), or location of the mining region (Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana). The burden of malaria in gold mines differs between territories: significant in Guyana, French Guiana, or Venezuela; lower in Brazil. Although Plasmodium vivax causes 75% of malaria cases in the Americas, P. falciparum is predominant in several gold mining regions, especially in the Guiana Shield. Because of the remoteness from health facilities, self-medication with under-the-counter antimalarials is frequent. This constitutes a significant risk for the emergence of new P. falciparum parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs. Summary Because of the workers' mobility, addressing malaria transmission in gold mines is essential, not only for miners, but also to prevent the (re-)emergence of malaria. Strategies among these populations should be tailored to the context because of the heterogeneity of situations in different territories. The transnational environment favoring malaria transmission also requires transborder and regional cooperation, where innovative solutions should be considered and evaluated.

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“…When addressing malaria, deforestation and climate change can either increase or decrease the spread of the infection, depending on the amount of forest cover, rainfall patterns, temperature ranges, and landscape characteristics (Githeko et al 2000, Olson et al 2009, Tucker Lima et al 2017, Laporta 2019. Looking specifically at the deforestation factor, the initial process of deforestation generally increases human contact with malaria vectors, causing higher rates of infection.…”

Section: Vector Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climate change and anthropogenic changes in forest environments can have varied effects on infectious diseases, including decreasing either vector populations or the number of disease cases in some situations, especially regarding malaria (Sanches-Ribas et al 2012, Gottdenker et al 2014, Laporta 2019. However, these cases in no way justify neglecting the impacts of deforestation on human health and biodiversity.…”

Section: Additional Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond diversity loss and climate change: Impacts of Amazon deforestation on infectious diseases and public health

Ellwanger

Kulmann-Leal

Kaminski

et al. 2020

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

264

146

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Amazonian biodiversity is increasingly threatened due to the weakening of policies for combating deforestation, especially in Brazil. Loss of animal and plant species, many not yet known to science, is just one among many negative consequences of Amazon deforestation. Deforestation affects indigenous communities, riverside as well as urban populations, and even planetary health. Amazonia has a prominent role in regulating the Earth's climate, with forest loss contributing to rising regional and global temperatures and intensification of extreme weather events. These climatic conditions are important drivers of emerging infectious diseases, and activities associated with deforestation contribute to the spread of disease vectors. This review presents the main impacts of Amazon deforestation on infectious-disease dynamics and public health from a One Health perspective. Because Brazil holds the largest area of Amazon rainforest, emphasis is given to the Brazilian scenario. Finally, potential solutions to mitigate deforestation and emerging infectious diseases are presented from the perspectives of researchers in different fields.

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Amazonian rainforest loss and declining malaria burden in Brazil

Cited by 11 publications

References 10 publications

Comparison of malaria incidence rates and socioeconomic-environmental factors between the states of Acre and Rondônia: a spatio-temporal modelling study

Comparison of malaria incidence rates and socioeconomic-environmental factors between the states of Acre and Rondônia: a spatio-temporal modelling study

Malaria in Gold Miners in the Guianas and the Amazon: Current Knowledge and Challenges

Beyond diversity loss and climate change: Impacts of Amazon deforestation on infectious diseases and public health

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