Brazil
Plague in Brazil: history, cases, natural foci and current risk
Quick answer
- Plague reached Brazil in 1899, brought by ships, causing outbreaks in ports such as Santos and Rio de Janeiro.
- During the 20th century the disease established natural foci in the Northeast, especially the Borborema plateau and Chapada do Araripe.
- There is no endemic transmission with regular human cases; the last notified human cases date from the 2000s, in Ceará.
- The current risk for the Brazilian population is considered very low, but rodent and flea surveillance continues in historical foci.
How plague reached Brazil
Plague reached Brazil in 1899, during the Third Pandemic, which was spreading worldwide along maritime routes. The first cases were recorded in ports, notably Santos (São Paulo state) and then Rio de Janeiro and other coastal cities.
Ships carrying rats and their fleas were the vehicle of introduction. From the ports, the disease moved inland, following people, goods and rodents.
Natural foci in the Northeast
Throughout the 20th century, plague established itself in rural areas of the Northeast, where it found favourable conditions: wild and domestic rodents, fleas and dwellings close to vegetation. The main foci became known in the Borborema plateau and Chapada do Araripe regions, covering states such as Paraíba, Pernambuco, Ceará, Alagoas and Bahia.
| Element | Examples |
|---|---|
| Rodents | Sewer rat (Rattus norvegicus), roof rat (Rattus rattus) and wild rodents |
| Fleas | Xenopsylla cheopis and species of the genus Polygenis |
| Environment | Rural areas, warehouses, dwellings with stored grain and rodents |
Last cases and current situation
With rodent control, improved sanitation and epidemiological surveillance, human cases fell sharply during the 20th century. According to the literature and health-sector records, the last notified human cases in Brazil occurred in the 2000s, in Ceará.
Check official sources
Case numbers and updates should be checked with the Brazilian Ministry of Health and institutions such as Fiocruz, which maintain surveillance of the historical foci.
This does not mean the bacterium has disappeared from the territory: natural foci in rodents and fleas remain under monitoring. The absence of regular human cases is the result of continuous surveillance, not the absence of the agent.
Current risk for Brazilians
The risk for the Brazilian population is considered very low. There is no endemic transmission with frequent human cases, and the 2026 Irkutsk laboratory case in Siberia has no relation to Brazil.
- No cases related to the Irkutsk case in Brazil.
- The disease does not circulate endemically with regular human transmission in the country.
- Rural areas of the historical foci in the Northeast remain under surveillance.
- Travellers to endemic regions abroad should follow specific prevention guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Is there plague in Brazil today?
There is no endemic transmission with regular human cases. There are historical natural foci in rodents and fleas, mainly in the Northeast, but the risk for the population is considered very low and the last notified human cases date from the 2000s.
When did plague reach Brazil?
In 1899, brought by ships during the Third Pandemic, with first cases in ports such as Santos and Rio de Janeiro.
Did plague return to Brazil because of the Russia case?
No. The Irkutsk laboratory case in Siberia is a localised event in Russia and has no relation to Brazil.
Which Brazilian states have plague foci?
Historical foci are concentrated in the Northeast, mainly in areas of the Borborema plateau and Chapada do Araripe, involving states such as Paraíba, Pernambuco, Ceará, Alagoas and Bahia.
Sources
Medical review
Review by a licensed health professional is being arranged. This educational content is based on reference sources (WHO, CDC and medical literature) and does not replace evaluation, diagnosis or treatment by a health professional.
How this content was produced
- Who
- Produced by the Equipe editorial do Peste.com.br, the editorial team responsible for gathering, verifying and classifying public information about plague (Yersinia pestis).
- How
- Information is compiled from official and scientific sources (WHO, CDC and national health authorities) and from recognised news outlets. Every statement is classified as confirmed, reported or unconfirmed, and each article lists its sources.
- Why
- To offer clear, source-based information in Portuguese about plague and to separate verified fact from rumour. This content is educational and does not replace medical advice.
- Medical review
- Review by a licensed health professional is being arranged; no credential is claimed until a real professional is credited.
- Last review
See our sources and methodology and the editorial team.A revisão por profissional de saúde habilitado está em processo de credenciamento. Assim que concluída, o nome e o registro serão informados nesta página e nos dados estruturados.