OBJECTIVE: To estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Data were collected on 2,857 blood donors from April 14 to 27, 2020. This study reports crude prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, population weighted prevalence for the state, and prevalence adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity. Logistic regression models were used to establish the correlates of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. For the analysis, we considered collection period and site, sociodemographic characteristics, and place of residence. RESULTS: The proportion of positive tests for SARS-Cov-2, without any adjustment, was 4.0% (95%CI 3.3–4.7%), and the weighted prevalence was 3.8% (95%CI 3.1–4.5%). We found lower estimates after adjusting for test sensitivity and specificity: 3.6% (95%CI 2.7–4.4%) for the non-weighted prevalence, and 3.3% (95%CI 2.6–4.1%) for the weighted prevalence. Collection period was the variable most significantly associated with crude prevalence: the later the period, the higher the prevalence. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, the younger the blood donor, the higher the prevalence, and the lower the education level, the higher the odds of testing positive for SARS-Cov-2 antibody. We found similar results for weighted prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings comply with some basic premises: the increasing trend over time, as the epidemic curve in the state is still on the rise; and the higher prevalence among both the youngest, for moving around more than older age groups, and the less educated, for encountering more difficulties in following social distancing recommendations. Despite the study limitations, we may infer that Rio de Janeiro is far from reaching the required levels of herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

A pandemia por Covid-19 representa um dos maiores desafios sanitários em escala mundial desse século. Na primeira semana do mês de abril, poucos meses depois do início da epidemia na China, em dezembro de 2019, já foram reportados mais de 1,5 milhão de casos e 85 mil mortes no mundo², e espera-se que um número ainda maior de casos e óbitos venha a ocorrer nos próximos meses. No Brasil, até o dia oito de abril de 2020, foram registrados 15.927 casos confirmados e 800 mortes pelo Covid-19³.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a epidemia de dengue em relação ao contexto socioeconômico segundo áreas geográficas. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo ecológico no município do Rio de Janeiro (RJ), em áreas delimitadas como bairros, a partir de informações de casos de dengue notificados em residentes no município. Foi calculada a taxa de incidência média de dengue entre as semanas epidemiológicas: 48ª de 2001 a 20ª de 2002. A ocorrência de dengue foi correlacionada com variáveis socioeconômicas utilizando-se o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Utilizou-se o Índice de Moran global e local para avaliar a autocorrelação espacial da dengue e das variáveis correlacionadas significativamente com a doença. O modelo de regressão linear múltipla e o modelo espacial condicional auto-regressivo foram usados para analisar a relação entre dengue e contexto socioeconômico. RESULTADOS: Os bairros da zona oeste do município apresentaram elevadas taxas de incidência média de dengue. Apresentaram correlação significativa as variáveis: percentual de domicílios ligados à rede sanitária geral, domicílios com lavadora de roupas e densidade populacional por área urbana. O índice de autocorrelação espacial Moran revelou dependência espacial entre a dengue e variáveis selecionadas. Os modelos utilizados apontaram o percentual de domicílios ligados à rede sanitária geral como única variável associada significativamente à doença. Os resíduos de ambos os modelos revelaram autocorrelação espacial significativa, com índice de Moran positivo (p<0,001) para o de regressão e negativo (p=0,005) para o espacial condicional auto-regressivo. CONCLUSÕES: Problemas relacionados ao saneamento básico contribuem decisivamente para o aumento do risco da doença.

The occurrence of fetal and neonatal disorders in pregnant women with Zika virus infection in the literature is not consistent. This study aims to estimate the prevalence rate of these disorders in fetuses/neonates of pregnant women with confirmed or probable infection by Zika virus. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted in November 2020. Cohort studies that contained primary data on the prevalence of unfavorable outcomes in fetuses or neonates of women with confirmed or probable Zika virus infection during pregnancy were included. A total of 21 cohort studies were included, with a total of 35,568 pregnant women. The meta-analysis showed that central nervous system abnormalities had the highest prevalence ratio of 0.06 (95% CI 0.03–0.09). Intracranial calcifications had a prevalence ratio of 0.01 (95% CI 0.01–0.02), and ventriculomegaly 0.01 (95% CI 0.01–0.02). The prevalence ratio of microcephaly was 0.03 (95% CI 0.02–0.05), fetal loss (miscarriage and stillbirth) was 0.04 (95% CI 0.02–0.06), Small for Gestational Age was 0.04 (95% CI 0.00–0,09), Low Birth Weight was 0.05 (95% CI 0.03–0.08) and Prematurity was 0.07 (95% CI 0.04–0.10). The positivity in RT-PCR for ZIKV performed in neonates born to infected mothers during pregnancy was 0.25 (95% CI 0.06–0.44). We also performed the meta-analysis of meta-analysis for microcephaly with the prevalence ratios from other two previously systematic reviews: 0.03 (95% CI 0.00–0.25). Our results contribute to measuring the impact of Zika virus infection during pregnancy on children’s health. The continuous knowledge of this magnitude is essential for the implementation development of health initiatives and programs, in addition to promoting disease prevention, especially in the development of a vaccine for Zika virus. PROSPERO protocol registration:http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019125543.

This study used spatial analysis to identify areas at greatest risk of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the urban area of Teresina, Brazil during 2001–2006. The results from kernel ratios showed that peripheral census tracts were the most heavily affected. Local spatial analysis showed that in the beginning of the study period local clusters of high incidence of VL were mostly located in the southern and northeastern parts of the city, but in subsequent years those clusters also appeared in the northern region of the city, suggesting that the pattern of VL is not static, and the disease may occasionally spread to other areas of the municipality. We also observed a spatial correlation between VL rates and all socioeconomic and demographic indicators evaluated (P < 0.01). The concentration of interventions in high-risk areas could be an effective strategy to control the disease in the urban setting.

In the past 5 years, the Zika virus (ZIKV) has gone from being associated with mild infection to one of the most studied viruses worldwide. Between 2015 and 2016, the first reports of pregnant wome...