The Minister of Health, Ricardo Barros, announced the end of the National Public Health Emergency caused by the Zika virus and its association with microcephaly and other neurological conditions.
The number of reported cases has dropped by 95% in the first months of this year compared to the same period in 2016. Therefore, Brazil no longer meets the criteria for a health emergency.
Infections by the Zika virus fell from 170,535 cases in 2016 to 7,911 cases this year. As a result, the incidence dropped from 82.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2016 to 3.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants this year.
Regarding pregnant women, 1,079 probable cases were reported. Of these, 293 were confirmed according to clinical-epidemiological or laboratory criteria. Nevertheless, no deaths from Zika have been recorded this year. Last year, eight people died as a result of Zika infections.
Dengue infections have dropped by 90.3%. By April 15, 113,381 probable cases of dengue were reported in the country, compared to 1,180,472 in 2016.
The number of deaths resulting from the disease was also lower than last year, decreasing from 507 to just 17 in 2017 – a reduction of 96.6%.
As for chikungunya, there were 43,010 notifications, which means an incidence rate of 20.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Last year, 135,030 cases were reported. Just like with dengue, the number of deaths from chikungunya infections also fell: from 196 to just 9.
Despite the end of the emergency status, Brazil will maintain its actions aimed at combating the mosquito and caring for babies and mothers. “Lifting the emergency status does not mean ending care or surveillance. The Ministry of Health and other organizations active in this area will maintain their policies regarding Zika, dengue, and chikungunya,” announced the Ministry of Health.