Characterization and temporal evolution of mortality due to zoonoses under mandatory declaration, between the years 1997 and 2018

Abstract

Background: Zoonoses are diseases transmitted from an animal host to humans or vice versa. In Chile, the zoonoses of mandatory notification are brucellosis, anthrax, trichinosis, hydatidosis, leptospirosis, dengue, Chagas disease, hantavirosis and rabies. Aim: To assess the trend and characterize the mortality from zoonoses of mandatory notification in Chile between 1997-2018. Methods: An official mortality and population data were used. Relative, general and specific mortality rates were described according to sociodemographic variables. Crude and adjusted annual mortality rates (direct method) were calculated. Temporal trend was evaluated with the Prais-Winsten regression model. Results: Between 1997 and 2018, the mortality rate due to zoonosis of mandatory notification corresponded to 0.13% (2152 deaths) of the total mortality, being Chagas disease (59.2%), hydatidosis (24.6%) and hantavirosis (13.5%) the main causes. The general adjusted mortality rate decreased significantly (B:-0.017; IC95%:-0.024;-0.009) as did hydatidosis (B:-0.011; IC95%:-0.013;-0.008), and only hantavirosis showed an increase trend (not significant). Conclusion: Mortality due to zoonoses decreased during the period; only hantavirosis showed an increasing trend. It is suggested to focus on strategies to prevent contagion and mortality by hantavirosis, as well as to improve access to treatment for the other zoonoses.