Ectima contagioso e a caprinovinocultura em Pernambuco: estudo preliminar para políticas públicas com novas abordagens

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases pose a significant public health problem worldwide and, in addition to the major risks to human health, also generate significant direct and indirect economic impacts. Some of these diseases have already been controlled or eliminated in most developed countries but remain endemic and often neglected in developing countries. One such disease is Contagious Ecthyma, a highly contagious viral zoonotic disease that mainly affects goats and sheep and can be responsible for significant economic losses in Brazil, especially in the Northeast region, where goat farming and sheep farming are economically relevant activities. The challenges in addressing Contagious Ecthyma often stem from the lack of disease diagnosis and monitoring, in addition, its social and economic costs are still underexplored. In this context, conducting economic analyses can support decision-making by stakeholders and enable the assessment and comparison of interventions. Therefore, the objective of this work was to conduct preliminary studies that may support future analyses of the socioeconomic impacts and behavioral factors associated with Contagious Ecthyma illness among both animal and human populations in Pernambuco. Based on the collected information, it seeks to identify intervention strategies inspired by the One Health approach and Behavioral Economics. To achieve this, the study adopts a qualitative applied methodology with the goal of understanding and describing the potential socioeconomic risks posed by the disease in a well-defined territorial and socioeconomic context. It aims to construct a comprehensive perspective on coping possibilities, utilizing literature and document research as its primary procedures. Based on the findings of this work, it is possible to assert that estimating the costs associated with Contagious Ecthyma is essential to determine its relevance as an economic, social, and public health problem. The utilization of approaches such as One Health and Behavioral Economics can contribute to the development of effective strategies for disease prevention and control.