Deforestation and Malaria in Mâncio Lima County, Brazil

Sarah H. Olson, Ronald Gangnon, Guilherme Abbad Silveira, and Jonathan A. Patz

Abstract: Malaria is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the Amazon. The authors used malaria reports for health districts collected in 2006 by the Programa Nacional de Controle da Malária to determine whether deforestation is associated with malaria incidence in the county (município) of Mâncio Lima, Acre State, Brazil. Cumulative percent deforestation was calculated for the spatial catchment area of each health district by using 60 × 60–meter, resolution-classified imagery. Statistical associations were identified with univariate and multivariate general additive negative binomial models adjusted for spatial effects. The cross-sectional study shows malaria incidence across health districts in 2006 is positively associated with greater changes in percentage of cumulative deforestation within respective health districts. After adjusting for access to care, health district size, and spatial trends, the authors show that a 4.3%, or 1 SD, change in deforestation from August 1997 through August 2000 is associated with a 48% increase of malaria incidence.

Deforestation and Malaria in Mâncio Lima County, Brazil

Sarah H. Olson, Ronald Gangnon, Guilherme Abbad Silveira, and Jonathan A. Patz

Published ahead of print in CDC/Emerging Infection Diseases, July 2010

http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/7/pdfs/09-1785.pdf

Photo credit: Public Health Image Library

Related topic: Growth in Amazon Cropland May Impact Climate and Deforestation Patterns – 09.19.2006

Photo Credit: NASA LBA-ECO Project