Human cystic echinococcosis according to notifications, discharges and mortality in Chile (2010-2019): characterization and communal distribution according to five-year period

Abstract

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis) is a globally distributed parasitic zoonosis affecting public health and livestock production. The disease is considered endemic in Chile and is subject to mandatory reporting. Aim: To analyze the geographical distribution of the disease and identify the communes with the highest discharge rates. Methods: Hydatidosis communal distribution were analyzed during five-year intervals from 2010 to 2019, utilizing data on notifications, discharges, and deaths. Results: The disease was found to affect people of all ages and genders, with a particular prevalence among those actively in the labor force. The median hospital stay for patients was 8 days; over 60% underwent surgical procedures, underscoring both the clinical severity and the substantial care demands. The cases were concentrated in Aysén and La Araucanía, with hyperendemic communes with rates far exceeding the national average. The most noteworthy are Río Ibáñez (160 discharges per 100,000 inhabitants in the first five-year period) and Lonquimay (121 discharges per 100,000 inhabitants in the second five-year period). Conclusion: Hydatidosis remains a neglected health issue, disproportionately affecting remote and vulnerable regions. Its persistence is a health issue and an outstanding debt to the most vulnerable groups, requiring targeted and sustainable policies to eliminate this neglected disease.