Chagas Disease Control Programme in Brazil: a study of the effectiveness of 13 years of intervention
Costa, F.C.; Vitor, R.W.; Antunes, C.M.; Carneiro, M.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 76(4): 385-391
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-9686 PMID: 9803589 Document Number: 228956
The Chagas Disease Control Program in Brazil utilizes house spraying with insecticide to control the Triatoma bug population (the intermediate host of Trypanosoma cruzi). Serologic evaluations of selected cohorts have shown a reduction of T. cruzi infection among those born after the start of the national program. This article reports on an evaluation of the Chagas Disease Control Program in Montalvania (State of Minas Gerais), Brazil, conducted in 1995 after 13 years of interventions. Blood samples collected from 653 persons from 156 households revealed a prevalence of T. cruzi infection of 2.3%--an 83.5% reduction since 1987. Seroprevalences were zero in 1995 in the 1-6 and 7-14 year age groups, indicating an interruption in disease transmission. A significant reduction was also recorded in the age group 15-29 years. An earlier evaluation in this area had concluded that 5 years of interventions were not sufficient to produce changes in infection rates. The high proportion of mud houses with dirt floors and tile roofs--ideal conditions for triatomine colonization--indicates a need for continuing active and passive surveillance in this area.