[Epidemiology of dengue in Salvador-Bahia, 1995-1999]

Since 1981, Brazil has registered dengue epidemic and simultaneous circulation of the DEN-1 and DEN-2 serotypes in over 2,700 municipalities. In Salvador- Bahia, located in the Northeastern region of the Country, two epidemic outbreaks occurred in the years of 1995 and 1996, with further endemic spread of the disease. This study analyses the incidence of the virosis within this municipal area, from 1995 to 1999, considering, among other variables, its distribution in the Sanitary Districts and density of Aedes aegypti. Registers of notified cases and the city's Vectorial Control Program were used as data source. The incidence rate of notified cases of dengue in 1995 and 1996, which were 691.4 and 393.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively, decreased to 65 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1998. In the poorer Sanitary Districts, this index reached figures of over 800 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Premise Index for Aedes aegypti reached 54.1% in one of the Districts. Bearing in mind the relevance of the re-emergence of dengue in the world, the authors discuss the possible factors which condition the virus introduction, its epidemiological presentation over the course of four years, and the effectiveness of the vectorial combat (eradication) program.