Perspectives of vector borne diseases control in Brazil

The analysis of vector borne disease control in Brazil should consider three aspects: the urbanization of the population, change from a rural pattern to concomitant urban or peri-urban transmission and decentralization of control to municipalities. The great majority of the population now lives in urban areas. Some diseases are being transmitted in urban areas, due to the emergence or reemergence of their vectors, such as dengue, malaria and visceral leishmaniasis. Difficulties in control occur, as P is easier to apply control measures in rural areas, because there is more population adherence than in urban areas and so the coverage is higher and disease control is better. The decentralization of control activities to states and municipalities is being implemented and difficulties occur as these levels of government have insufficient accumulated experience in control. For more effective control, political commitment, multi-sector articulation and rational use of insecticide are required.