BACKGROUND Meningococcal C conjugate (MenC) vaccine was introduced as part of the Brazilian National Immunisation Program in 2010 for children < 1 year of age. OBJECTIVES The study objective was to evaluate the impact of this vaccination strategy. METHODS An observational, mixed ecological and analytical study was conducted, based on time series panel data from surveillance records (2001-2013). FINDINGS A total of 37,538 of meningococcal disease cases were recorded during the study period. Of these, 19,997 were attributed to serogroup C. A decrease in meningococcal disease serogroup C (MDC) incidence among children aged < 1 year [65.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 20.5-84.7%] and 1-4 years (46.9%; 95%CI: 14.6-79.1%) were found in the three years following vaccination introduction. Vaccination impact on the reduction of MDC incidence varied from 83.7% (95%CI: 51.1-100.0%) in the Midwest region to 56.7% (95%CI: 37.4-76.0%) in the Northeast region. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Vaccination against MDC in Brazil had a positive impact on the population of children aged < 1 year, across all regions, and on the 1-4 year-old cohort. Nevertheless, in our view there is scope for improving the vaccination strategy adopted in Brazil.

Recent efforts to reduce malaria incidence have had some successes. Nevertheless, malaria persists as a significant public health problem in the Brazilian Amazon. The objective of this study was to describe changes in malaria case characteristics and to identify trends in malaria incidence in the Brazilian Amazon. This study used data from the Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance and Case Notification Information System from 2004 to 2013. The annual parasite incidence (API) was calculated and joinpoint regression was used to assess the trends in API over time. There was a sharp increase in API in the state of Acre, followed by two periods of decrease. Pará also presented inconsistent decreases over the study period. Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, and Roraima showed statistically significant decreases over the period. The sharpest decrease occurred in Rondônia, with a reduction of 21.7% in the average annual percent change (AAPC) (AAPC: -21.7%; 95% confidence interval: -25.4%, -17.8%; p < 0.05). This panorama of malaria incidence highlights the importance of integrating evidence-based malaria surveillance and control. Malaria is highly preventable, and eliminating its transmission should be a goal in coming decades.

Inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with protection against ribavirin (RBV)-induced anaemia in European, American and Asian patients; however, there is a paucity of data for Brazilian patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ITPA SNP (rs7270101/rs1127354) frequency in healthy and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients from Brazil and the association with the development of severe anaemia during antiviral therapy. ITPA SNPs were determined in 200 HCV infected patients and 100 healthy individuals by sequencing. Biochemical parameters and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were analysed in 97 patients who underwent antiviral therapy. A combination of AArs7270101+CCrs1127354 (100% ITPase activity) was observed in 236/300 individuals. Anaemia was observed in 87.5% and 86.2% of treated patients with AA (rs7270101) and CC genotypes (rs1127354), respectively. Men with AA (rs7270101) showed a considerable reduction in Hb at week 12 compared to those with AC/CC (p = 0.1475). In women, there was no influence of genotype (p = 0.5295). For rs1127354, men with the CC genotype also showed a sudden reduction in Hb compared to those with AC. Allelic distribution of rs7270101 and rs1127354 shows high rates of the genotypes AA and CC, respectively, suggesting that the study population had a great propensity for developing RBV-induced anaemia. A progressive Hb reduction during treatment was observed; however, this reduction was greater in men at week 12 than in women.

This study estimates the factors of artificial environments (houses and peridomestic areas) associated with Triatoma sordida occurrence. Manual searches for triatomines were performed in 136 domiciliary units (DUs) in two rural localities of Central-West Brazil. For each DU, 32 structural, 23 biotic and 28 management variables were obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify statistically significant variables associated with occurrence of T. sordida in the study areas. A total of 1,057 specimens (99% in peridomiciles, mainly chicken coops) of T. sordida were collected from 63 DUs (infestation: 47%; density: ~8 specimens/DU; crowding: ~17 specimens/infested DU; colonisation: 81%). Only six (0.6%) out of 945 specimens examined were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The final adjusted logistic regression model indicated that the probability of T. sordida occurrence was higher in DU with wooden chicken coops, presence of > 30 animals in wooden corrals, presence of wood piles and presence of food storeroom. The results show the persistence of T. sordida in peridomestic habitats in rural localities of Central-West Brazil. However, the observed low intradomestic colonisation and minimal triatomine infection rates indicate that T. sordida has low potential to sustain high rates of T. cruzi transmission to residents of these localities.

Objective To explore the presence and magnitude of – and change in – socioeconomic and health inequalities between and within Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa – the countries known as BRICS – between 1990 and 2010. Methods Comparable data on socioeconomic and health indicators, at both country and primary subnational levels, were obtained from publicly available sources. Health inequalities between and within countries were identified and summarized by using standard gap and gradient metrics. Findings Four of the BRICS countries showed increases in both income level and income inequality between 1990 and 2010. The exception was Brazil, where income inequality decreased over the same period. Between-country inequalities in level of education and access to sanitation remained mostly unchanged but the largest between-country difference in mean life expectancy increased, from 9 years in 1990 to 20 years in 2010. Throughout the study period, there was disproportionality in the burden of disease between BRICS. However, the national infant mortality rate fell substantially over the study period in all five countries. In Brazil and China, the magnitude of subnational income-related inequalities in infant mortality, both absolute and relative, also decreased substantially. Conclusion Despite the economic prosperity and general improvements in health seen since 1990, profound inequalities in health persist both within and between BRICS. However, the substantial reductions observed – within Brazil and China – in the inequalities in income-related levels of infant mortality are encouraging.

Resumen Objetivo Explorar la presencia y magnitud, así como los cambios en las desigualdades socioeconómicas y sanitarias entre y dentro de Brasil, la Federación de Rusia, India, China y Sudáfrica, los países conocidos como BRICS, entre 1990 y 2010. Métodos Se analizaron fuentes accesibles al público para obtener datos comparables sobre los indicadores socioeconómicos y de salud tanto a nivel nacional como subnacional primario. Se identificaron y resumieron las desigualdades sanitarias entre países con ayuda de métricas de brecha estándar y de gradiente. Resultados Cuatro de los países BRICS mostraron incrementos tanto a nivel de ingresos como de desigualdad de ingresos entre 1990 y 2010. La excepción fue Brasil, donde la desigualdad de ingresos se redujo en el mismo periodo. Las desigualdades entre los países a nivel educativo y de acceso a la sanidad permanecieron en su mayoría sin cambios, si bien la diferencia entre países relativa a la esperanza media de vida más grande aumentó de 9 años en 1990 a 20 años en el año 2010. A lo largo del periodo de estudio se observó una desproporción en la carga de la enfermedad en los BRICS. Sin embargo, la tasa de mortalidad infantil nacional se redujo sustancialmente durante el periodo de estudio en los cinco países. En Brasil y China, la magnitud de las desigualdades relacionadas con los ingresos a nivel subnacional en la mortalidad infantil, tanto en términos absolutos como relativos, también se redujo sustancialmente. Conclusión A pesar de la prosperidad económica y la mejora general de la salud que se observa desde 1990, aún persisten desigualdades muy importantes en materia de salud tanto dentro, como entre los países BRICS. Sin embargo, las reducciones sustanciales de las desigualdades a nivel de ingresos de la mortalidad infantil observadas en Brasil y China son alentadoras.

Résumé Objectif Étudier la présence et l'importance – et les variations – des inégalités socioéconomiques et sanitaires entre et à l'intérieur du Brésil, de la Fédération de Russie, de l'Inde, de la Chine et de l'Afrique du Sud – les pays connus sous le nom de BRICS – entre 1990 et 2010. Méthodes Des données comparables sur les indicateurs socioéconomiques et sanitaires, à la fois aux niveaux national et infranational primaire, ont été tirées de sources accessibles au public. Les inégalités sanitaires entre et à l'intérieur des pays ont été identifiées et synthétisées à l’aide des écarts types et des mesures de gradient. Résultats Quatre pays du groupe BRICS ont montré des augmentations à la fois du niveau des revenus et des inégalités des revenus entre 1990 et 2010. L'exception a été le Brésil, où l'inégalité des revenus a diminué sur la même période. Les inégalités entre les pays dans le niveau de l'éducation et l'accès aux installations sanitaires n'ont pratiquement pas changé, mais la différence la plus marquée entre les pays dans l'espérance de vie moyenne a augmenté, passant de 9 ans en 1990 à 20 ans en 2010. Sur toute la période de l'étude, la charge de morbidité était disproportionnée entre les pays du groupe BRICS. Cependant, le taux national de mortalité infantile a considérablement chuté pendant la période d'étude dans l'ensemble des 5 pays. Au Brésil et en Chine, l'importance des inégalités infranationales en matière de mortalité infantile, à la fois absolue et relative, qui sont liées aux revenus, a également considérablement diminué. Conclusion Malgré la prospérité économique et les améliorations générales en matière de santé observées depuis 1990, de profondes inégalités en matière de santé persistent à la fois entre et à l'intérieur des pays du groupe BRICS. Cependant, les importantes diminutions observées dans les inégalités – à l'intérieur du Brésil et de la Chine –en matière de taux de mortalité infantile, qui sont liées aux revenus, sont encourageantes.