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Schistosomiasis control program in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil
Drummond, Sandra Costa; Pereira, Sílvio Roberto Sousa; Silva, Luciana Cristina dos Santos; Antunes, Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo & Lambertucci, José Roberto
Abstract
The Schistosomiasis Control Program (PCE) was implemented in Minas Gerais (MG) in 1984. In 1999, the state
started the investigation and control of schistosomiasis in 470 municipalities. The aim of the present paper is to
report the evolution of this Program from 1984-2007. The program included a coproscopic survey carried out in the
municipalities of known endemic areas using a quantitative method. Positives were treated with praziquantel and
given a program of health education. The information for this study was obtained from data collected and stored by
the Health State Department. From 2003-2007, 2,643,564 stool examinations resulted in 141,284 positive tests for
Schistosoma mansoni (5.3%). In the first evaluation after treatment, a decrease in the number of municipalities with
prevalence over 10% was documented. In one village, selected for a more detailed evaluation, the percentage of
positive tests decreased from 14.9% in the baseline survey to 5.3% after treatment. A reference centre for patients with
severe schistosomiasis was created in Belo Horizonte, MG. Based on our findings, we believe that the
implementation of PCE in MG is on the right path and in due time these new initiatives will provide desirable results.
Keywords
schistosomiasis - prevalence - Minas Gerais - control program - hepatosplenic schistosomiasis
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