As hidrelétricas do Rio Madeira e a difusão do dengue em Porto Velho/RO, Amazônia ocidental brasileira

Abstract

Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus, occurring in tropical and subtropical regions of all continents, with the exception of Europe and transmitted to humans in the Americas through the bite of Aedes aegypti. The characteristics of the natural environment and the technical environment where the municipality of Porto Velho is situated provide favorable ecological conditions for the spread of this disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the temporal pattern of dengue cases in the municipality of Porto Velho, RO/Brazil, during the period of 2001-2012, articulating the changes in the geographical environment caused by the construction of the new engineering systems of the Complex Hydroelectric dam on the Madeira River. The results revealed that the dengue epidemic that occurred in Porto Velho in the years 2009-2010 was influenced, mainly, by the immigration of people to the region. Thus, it is necessary to invest more and more in the area of ​​health and education, strengthening the importance of on-site research for understanding what has changed in conjunction with these changes in geographic space.