Abstract
Objective: To study the incidence of hantavirus disease compared to the deforestation index in the southern and southeastern states of Brazil between 2008 and 2017. Methods: Observational, retrospective study, with collection of hantavirus cases entered in the SINAN NET database, made available by DATASUS in the period from 2008 to 2017 and the deforestation index data available in the Atlas of Atlantic Forest Remnants, Atlantic Forest Foundation and INPE. The variables were analyzed: evolution, age group, sex, infection environment, infection zone and deforestation. Results: The states of the southern and southeastern region presented 690 cases of hantavirus between 2008 and 2017. Among the total cases, 51% are between 20 to 49 years old, 77% male, the most affected environment is the workplace with 42%, and 69% of cases occur in rural areas. In the years 2011, 2014 and 2017 it was possible to observe that the significant reduction in deforestation directly impacts the reduction in the number of cases of the disease (p=0.031, r=0.9969, Pearson). Conclusion: Deforestation is directly related to the manifestations of hantavirosis, and more encouragement is needed for the development of ecological and environmental research, and greater awareness about the risk of environmental degradation.