Scientists analysed more than 1 million cases of vector-borne diseases across the Brazilian Amazon between 2015 and 2019 — including malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
They found that disease patterns were closely associated with different forms of land use and environmental change. Remote forested areas, mining, agriculture and expanding towns each showed distinct disease patterns.
It’s a reminder that human health and the health of ecosystems are deeply connected.
Understanding how land-use changes shape these patterns can help identify vulnerable areas, strengthen disease surveillance and better protect both people and forests.
Citation: Barbosa, M., Lana, R.M., Dal’Asta, A.P. et al. Vector-borne disease co-occurrence is shaped by agrarian economy and socioenvironmental contexts in the Brazilian Amazon. Commun Earth Environ 7, 590 (2026).
doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-0…