Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging vector-borne arbovirus with high epidemic potential, causing illness in more than 500,000 people. Primarily contracted through its midge and mosquito vectors, OROV remains prevalent in its wild, non-human primate and sloth reservoir hosts as well. This virus is spreading across Latin America; however, the majority of cases occur in Brazil. The aim of this research is to document OROV’s presence in Brazil using the One Health approach and geospatial techniques. A scoping review of the literature (2000 to 2021) was conducted to collect reports of this disease in humans and animal species. Data were then geocoded by first and second subnational levels and species to map OROV’s spread. In total, 14 of 27 states reported OROV presence across 67 municipalities (second subnational level). However, most of the cases were in the northern region, within the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome. OROV was identified in humans, four vector species, four genera of non-human primates, one sloth species, and others. Utilizing One Health was important to understand the distribution of OROV across several species and to suggest possible environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic drivers of the virus’s presence. As deforestation, climate change, and migration rates increase, further study into the spillover potential of this disease is needed.

Animal stings are environmental hazards that threaten millions annually and cause a significant socioeconomic impact. Snakebite envenoming affects 2.7 million people globally every year, mostly the poorest and rural communities, with approximately 27,000 annual cases in Brazil. This study’s objective is to identify the most exposed racial group for snakebites in rural areas of Brazil and analyze possible differences in the outcome of an accident. A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted using a database of rural snakebite cases from Brazil’s Ministry of Health (2017). Descriptive analysis and a regression model were performed to examine the association of bad outcomes after a snakebite with several covariables. While mixed-race individuals presented the highest number of cases (61.79%), indigenous and white populations were the racial groups with the highest and lowest exposure rates (194.3 and 34.1 per 100,000 population, respectively). The fatality rate was 3.5 times higher in the indigenous population compared to the white population. In the multivariable model, the number of hours between the accident and health care received and the case classification suggested an association with a bad outcome. Snakebite is prominent in Brazil, particularly among indigenous groups. Antivenom is available in the Brazilian Health System; however, efforts need to be made for decentralization.

Leptospirosis is a well-known disease that frequently occurs after floods. At the beginning of May 2024, a catastrophic flood occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, affecting two million people and leading to a state of calamity. Given the State’s high pre-flood leptospirosis rates, the disease became a major concern for decision-makers. This study aimed to estimate the rise in leptospirosis cases after the flood, assess the changes in case patterns before and after the disaster, and document the response of the state health surveillance center to the outbreak. We estimated the increase during the flood period (May to July 2024) by comparing it with the same period in the previous year as baseline. During the first three months of the catastrophic event, 6273 suspected cases of leptospirosis were reported to the surveillance system, and 958 cases were confirmed. The number of confirmed cases during the flood was 10.3-fold higher than the baseline. Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient was 0.77 (p-value < 0.0001) for the association of Health Regions regarding the rank in incidence rates of confirmed cases in the flood period and the proportion of the population with households flooded. Thirty deaths (three females) were confirmed, a 6.0-fold rise compared with 2023. The state responders carried out many activities, including epidemiological surveillance and the dissemination of information. Among the challenges faced was the lack of evidence in the literature supporting recommendations for antibiotic chemoprophylaxis for rescue personnel. Another difficulty concerned performing gold-standard laboratory diagnostic tests to confirm the enormous number of suspected cases reported during this catastrophe. Despite implementing many actions to mitigate its impact, leptospirosis remained a major challenge during the event. These findings may provide valuable insights for decision-makers facing similar situations in massive climate disasters.