Pandemic of hunger: The severe nutritional deficiency that kills Yanomami ethnic children

Garcia, Hévilla Maria; Feitosa, Germano de Garcia Alves; Menezes, Hildson Leandro de; Figueiredo, Thânia Maria Rodrigues; Alves, Ruan Neto Pereira; Lima, Nádia Nara Rolim; Reis, Alberto Olavo Advíncula; Araújo, Jaime Emanuel Brito; Carvalho, Sionara Melo Figueiredo de; Machado, Sávio Samuel Feitosa; Lima, Danielly Gonçalves Sombra; Neto, Modesto Leite Rolim; Júnior, Jucier Gonçalves; Feitosa, Pedro Wallison Gomes

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.024

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…5 Additionally, illegal mining activities in the region have resulted in deforestation and contamination of rivers, soil and animals with mercury, putting children and adolescents living in mining areas at risk of mercury contamination, nutritional problems and even death. 6…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Analysis of Malaria Cases in the Brazilian Yanomami Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Ecologic Study From 2003 to 2022

Martins-Filho

Lima

Damascena

et al. 2023

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

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This retrospective ecological study investigated malaria incidence among Brazilian Yanomami children and adolescents from 2003 to 2022. Of the 145,573 recorded cases, 75.9% occurred in the Yanomami pediatric population. Moreover, an increase in the proportion of cases among the 10–19 age group has been observed, potentially associated with the recruitment of Indigenous adolescents to mining areas in recent years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Analysis of Malaria Cases in the Brazilian Yanomami Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Ecologic Study From 2003 to 2022

Martins-Filho

Lima

Damascena

et al. 2023

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

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“…Second, the movement of miners within a region contributes to pathogen dispersal, increasing the probability of local transmission 12 . Finally, the consumption of mercury-contaminated surface and ground water and sh due to mining activities increases the likelihood of contracting malaria, which is potentially mediated by changes in immune response and severe malnutrition induced by mercury exposure [13][14][15] .…”

Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, as of 2022, more than a thousand mining requests had been filed to operate in their territory 20 . During Bolsonaro’s administration, the Yanomami faced persistent threats to their health, culture, and existence 4 , 15 . In 2023, a major humanitarian crisis triggered by the invasion of 30,000 illegal miners in their territory emerged among these Yanomami people in Brazil with over 300 deaths in 2022.…”

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confidence: 99%

Investigating the Yanomami malaria outbreak puzzle: surge in mining during Bolsonaro’s government triggered peak in malaria burden

Dutra,

Fontes,

Braga

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The Yanomami, an Indigenous people from the Amazon, confront multifaceted challenges endangering their health and cultural integrity. Of immediate concern is the surge in malaria cases in their territory during Bolsonaro’s government. We investigated the impact of land use on malaria incidence among the Yanomami leveraging satellite imagery and ran difference-in-differences analyses to ask whether the Yanomami suffered disproportionately from malaria when illegal mining was rising in the region (2016-2022). We show a remarkable ~300% rise in malaria from 2016 to 2022 and point to mining as the primary driver of malaria among the Yanomami; when mining increases by 1%, malaria increases by 31%. After mining unfolded, the burden of malaria among the Yanomami was disproportionately higher, up to 15%, than in non-indigenous communities. Our findings underscore the impact of illegal mining on the high malaria burden suffered by the Yanomami and the importance of rainforest conservation and land sovereignty for Indigenous health.

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“…The Yanomami territory covers 96,000 km 2 extending from the Roraima to Amazonas states [ 19 ]. The lack or scarcity of medical care, together with an estimated 20,000 illegal miners active in their territory, have pushed the Yanomami into a desperate state [ 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, C, and D and associated factors in the semi-isolated Yanomami Amazonian indigenous community

Vasconcelos,

Sánchez-Arcila,

Peres

et al. 2024

BMC Infect Dis

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Background Viral hepatitis is a significant health concern among indigenous population in the Americas. In Brazil, reports find high endemicity of HBV and HDV infections has been reported in several indigenous groups. However, few studies have documented the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HDV in the Yanomami. In this study, the prevalence of hepatitis B, C, and D serological markers and potential risk factors were investigated to provide guidance for the development of strategies aimed at reducing viral transmission in the Yanomami indigenous villages. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in March 2015 and included 430 individuals from four Yanomami villages: Alapusi (n = 78), Castanha/Ahima (n = 126), Gasolina (n = 105), and Taibrapa (n = 121). A rapid test was used for detection of HBsAg and anti-HCV and chemiluminescent immunoassay for anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HDV antibodies. Results HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs were detected in 8.8, 45.5, and 49.4% of the participants, respectively. The estimated HBV status: current infection 9.6% (38/395); resolved infection 43.3% (171/395); vaccine immunity 20.5% (81/395), and susceptible to HBV 26.6% (105/395). Gasolina presented the lowest prevalence of HBV infection (6.5%) and the highest prevalence of vaccine immunity (26.9%). Children < 15 years old were highly susceptible to infection, as 53.1% did not have antibodies to HBV, while more than 80% of individuals over 45 years of age had been exposed to HBV. The markers for HDV were founded among 12.5% (4/32) of the HBsAg carriers. Anti-HCV was identified in all villages, with the highest prevalence in Alapusi (5.1%). Possible risk factors such as the use of piercings, tattoos, and contact with prospectors showed no statistical difference between the groups. Conclusions Viral hepatitis B and serological markers for HCV and HDV were found to be widely distributed among the Yanomami indigenous community, while the prevalence of vaccine immunity to HBV was low. This finding reinforces the importance of promoting systematized diagnostic and vaccination strategies in indigenous communities. Our data confirm that isolated and difficult-to-reach indigenous communities lack appropriate access to diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination.

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Pandemic of hunger: The severe nutritional deficiency that kills Yanomami ethnic children

Cited by 8 publications

References 8 publications

Temporal Analysis of Malaria Cases in the Brazilian Yanomami Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Ecologic Study From 2003 to 2022

Temporal Analysis of Malaria Cases in the Brazilian Yanomami Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Ecologic Study From 2003 to 2022

Investigating the Yanomami malaria outbreak puzzle: surge in mining during Bolsonaro’s government triggered peak in malaria burden

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, C, and D and associated factors in the semi-isolated Yanomami Amazonian indigenous community

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