[Dengue: epidemiological aspects and the first outbreak in the Middle Solimões Region of Coari in the State of Amazonas from 2008 to 2009]. / Dengue: aspectos epidemiológicos e o primeiro surto ocorrido na região do Médio Solimões, Coari, Estado do Amazonas, no período de 2008 a 2009.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Dengue is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in Brazil and is a major public health problem worldwide. It is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions with 2.5 to 3 billion people at risk of becoming infected. Thus, this study sought to demonstrate the epidemiological characteristics of individuals affected by dengue, its prevalence and its epidemic process in the Middle Solimões region of Coari in the state of Amazonas between 2008 and 2009. METHODS: Epidemiological data were obtained through epidemiological monitoring by the Municipal Health Facility of the city of Coari, AM. The variables analyzed were the month of notification, the number of confirmed cases, the cases' genders, the cases' ages and their neighborhoods of residence. RESULTS: In total, 1,003 cases were reported (635 in 2008 and 368 in 2009), and 639 cases were diagnosed as positive. Of these, +54% involved female subjects, and +46% were male. The majority of the affected individuals were between 10 and 49 years of age, and the spatial distribution was concentrated in neighborhoods near streams, lakes and areas in which housing had recently been disrupted. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, during the period studied, there was an outbreak of dengue in the City of Coari, AM. However, it is possible that a dengue epidemic may have occurred earlier in Coari without proper diagnosis or follow-up and that previously infected individuals may have traveled to the capital of Amazonas (Manaus), where the virus has circulated since 1998.