A epidemia do vírus Zika e a atuação estatal brasileira: uma questão de saúde pública

Abstract

The zika virus outbreak, experienced by the Brazilian population in 2015 and 2016, as a public health problem, has evidenced the existing inequalities in the country. Mostly affecting the Northeast, the disease transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti profoundly marked the lives of pregnant women and women of reproductive age. After the end of the outbreak, the families of the children born with congenital zika syndrome, known only as microcephaly, persist in the fight for rights against the Brazilian authorities. In this context, using qualitative based methodology, with bibliographic and documentary research, especially about the ADI/ADPF 5581, in process in STF, this work aims to analyze if the deficiencies in the access to the actions in public health, whose responsibility is attributed to the Brazilian State, has influenced the dimension acquired by the epidemic in question, mainly considering the socio-economic profile of the people affected. It was found that inequalities in access to health services, as well as historical failures in public policies, has contributed to the history of the Zika virus outbreak was narrated with specific race, gender, social class and geographical location. It was showed out that the absence of State commitment to persistent public health issues, such as controlling the mosquito and offering an effective family planning program, would mean dealing with repeated outbreaks of zika, as has happened with dengue. Furthermore, it was analysed the rights of children with disabilities, which need to be effectively recognized and guaranteed by the government.