Incidence related to accidents caused by venomous animals in the Northeast Region of Brazil: a spatial approach and spatio-temporal retrospective (2008 to 2017).

Accidents with venomous animals correspond to the second cause of epidemiological notification in Brazil, with around 140 thousand cases registered in recent years, which constitutes a serious public health problem. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile and the spatial and spatio-temporal patterns of the incidence of accidents by venomous animals in the Northeast region of Brazil, from 2008 to 2017. We carried out an epidemiological and observational study of an ecological nature, with tools for spatial analysis. To do so, we calculated the incidence rate of cases. The occurrence of spatial autocorrelation was verified and the spatial KullDorff statistics were used to identify risk clusters. A total of 486,001 cases were reported, of which 50.1% (244,122) of those affected were female, the age group most affected by accidents was >60 years, 70.6% (343,295) of accidents were caused by scorpions and 14.7% (71,620) by snakes. The state of Bahia had the highest number of accidents, followed by Pernambuco and Alagoas. The highest incidence rates are observed mainly in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Maranhão and Bahia. There was an increase in accidents in the period studied. In addition, this study shows that the use of space tools collaborate positively to identify locations with a high incidence of accidents by venomous animals.

Diagnóstico de helmintos de importância médica no estado de Alagoas durante dois anos de Pandemia de Covid-19 / Diagnosis of medically important helminths in the state of Alagoas during two years of the Covid-19 pandemic

Objetivo: avaliar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 no diagnóstico de helmintos no estado de Alagoas, durante dois anos de pandemia. Métodos: os dados foram obtidos por meio do Sistema de Informação do Programa de Controle da Esquistossomose. Em seguida, realizou-se o cálculo de prevalência para cada helminto por município. Posteriormente, foram construídos mapas com as taxas de prevalência bruta. Resultados: 524.534 exames foram realizados pelo Programa de Controle da Esquistossomose em Alagoas, sendo a maioria destes realizados antes de 2020 (319.479) com 46.728 casos positivos para helmintos. Entre os helmintos diagnosticados, o Ancylostoma spp., A. lumbricoides e T. trichiura foram os mais prevalentes, com 31.473, 25.752 e 9.717, respectivamente. As regiões de saúde 2, 3, 4 e 6 são as mais evidentes quanto à presença destes antes e durante a pandemia. Conclusões: foi possível identificar, geograficamente, as áreas mais afetadas pelos helmintos em Alagoas, ademais, como esperado, as ações do PCE foram afetadas pela Pandemia da COVID-19.

Objective: to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of helminths in the state of Alagoas during two years of the pandemic Methods: data were obtained through the Information System of the Schistosomiasis Control Program. Then, the prevalence calculation was performed for each helminth by the municipality. Subsequently, maps were constructed with crude prevalence rates. Results: 524,534 tests were performed by the Schistosomiasis Control Program in Alagoas, most of which were performed before 2020 (319,479) with 46,728 positive cases for helminths. Among the helminths diagnosed, Ancylostoma spp., A. lumbricoides, and T. trichiura were the most prevalent, with 31,473; 25,752 and 9,717, respectively. Health regions 2, 3, 4, and 6 are the most evident in terms of their presence before and during the pandemic. Conclusions: it was possible to geographically identify the areas most affected by helminths in Alagoas, in addition, as expected, the PCE's actions were affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Space-time risk clusters of Covid-19 in a tourism area in the northeastern Brazil: an epidemiological overview after two years of pandemic

The world is facing a serious viral infection caused by the new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. We aimed to evaluate and map the high-risk clusters of COVID-19 in the State of Alagoas, a touristic area in northeastern Brazil, after two years of pandemic by a population-based ecological study, using COVID-19 cases reported in the State of Alagoas, between March, 2020 and April, 2022. We performed a descriptive and statistical analysis of epidemiological data. We then map high-risk areas for COVID-19, using spatial analysis, considering the incidence rate by municipality. 297,972 positive cases were registered; 56.9% were female and 42.7% aged between 20 and 39 years old. Men (OR = 1.59) and older than 60 years old (OR = 29.64) had a higher risk of death, while the highest incidence rates of the disease occurred in the metropolitan region. Our data demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 in the State of Alagoas, through the two years of pandemic. Although the number of cases were greater among women and young adults, the chance of death was greater among men and older adults. High-risk clusters of the disease initially occur in metropolitan cities and tourist areas.