Acute schistosomiasis outbreak in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais: alert about the risk of unnoticed transmission increased by growing rural tourism

Factors associated with schistosomiasis mansoni in a population from the municipality of Jaboticatubas, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Thus, tourism has been the most profitable activity in Jaboticatubas, requiring less man-power and decreasing the former demanding work force. On the other hand, this activity enables schistosomiasis transmission to other people classes, those who attend the area for tourism purposes, characterizing a new risk modality (Enk et al 2003(Enk et al , 2004.…”

Rural tourism: a risk factor for schistosomiasis transmission in Brazil

“…Several occurrences have been reported in the metropolitan regions of Belo Horizonte (Enk et al 2003, Massara et al 2008, Recife (Barbosa et al 2000(Barbosa et al , 2001a and Aracaju (de Jesus et al 2002) and in the countryside of São Paulo (Tomé et al 2003). The present paper confirms this observation and corroborates previous reports of increasing schistosomiasis transmission, especially in urban areas where mostly middle and upper class people, who have never been in contact with the disease, are becoming infected and suffering from the acute form of schistosomiasis.…”

“…This, together with the fact that infected patients with unspecific symptoms seek medical advice in non-endemic areas, resulting in neither the physician nor the patient suspecting schistosomiasis, explains the numerous and sometimes unnecessary diagnostic tests ordered, as well as the retarded and often inadequate initiated treatment plan (Enk et al 2003). In the present investigation, the professionals of the René Rachou Research Institute were informed about a possible schistosomiasis transmission by an attentive physician who was performing an abdominal ultrasound on one of the patients.…”

“…Together with the development of the tourism business and a lack of basic sanitation infrastructure, schistosomiasis cases have been frequently recorded in several Brazilian regions (Barbosa et al 2000, 2001a, b, de Jesus et al 2002, Tomé et al 2003, Enk et al 2003, Massara et al 2008). Many of the tourists, who have never been exposed to the disease, can develop its acute form.…”

A Pedagogical approach of schistosomiasis an experience in health education in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…It was possible to observe the irregularity of the distribution of different groups of risk, the relation of the productive process with the transformation of the environment as well as of the society which contributed in the maintenance of the disease. The change from the agricultural system of small farmers by transforming their properties in to leisure and rural tourism areas (Enk et al, 2003) has generated discussions about the urgent need for measures to control the disease by the local public authorities together with the inhabitants. These features associated with stimuli from other projects that are taking place in the region such as "Projeto Manuelzão" (UFMG) have induced several pedagogical actions, associated with projects to enlarge the knowledge of the community, initiating extra-curricular activities such as informative parades, visits to local water springs, collection of separated garbage.…”