[Investigation of a measles outbreak in Pará State, Brazil, in the age of elimination of the disease]. / Investigação de surto de sarampo no Estado do Pará na era da eliminação da doença no Brasil.

In July 27th, 2010, witnessed the late notification of a positive test result for measles IgM antibodies in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, sparking an epidemiological investigation and control and preventive measures. Two more confirmed cases were identified, both of whom were siblings of the index case, with clinical signs and symptoms and incubation period consistent with measles. We conducted a retrospective search in hospitals and laboratories for suspected cases that lived in or had visited Pará State from May 1st to August 4th, 2010, and had presented fever and exanthema accompanied by cough and/or sneezing and/or conjunctivitis. All identified cases were investigated by telephone contact and/or home visits. We reviewed 183,854 consultation forms and identified 56 (0.03%) suspected cases. We applied 2,535 doses of triple viral vaccine distributed between blockades vaccination intensifications. A household measles outbreak occurred in Belém with the detection and isolation of a viral genotype imported from Europe. Timely and sensitive epidemiological surveillance is recommended for the detection of suspected cases of measles and maintenance of high immunization coverage.

Inquérito domiciliar de prevalência de tracoma em crianças do Distrito Federal, Brasil, julho/2010 / Survey of prevalence trachoma of children in Distrito Federal, Brazil, july/2010

Realizamos um estudo de corte transversal na Vila Estrutural (DF), utilizando amostragem por conglomerados. Os objetivos do estudo foram estimar a prevalência de tracoma em crianças de um a nove anos, descrever o perfil sociodemográfico dos casos e identificar possíveis fatores de risco associados à doença. A medida de associação foi razão de prevalência estimada pela odds ratio e o intervalo de confiança 95% (IC95%). Foram amostradas 766 crianças de 1 a 9 anos e encontrada prevalência de tracoma ativo de 12,5%. A alta prevalência observada reforça que a doença permanece como um problema de saúde pública, sendo necessária a adoção de medidas de controle, com vistas à eliminação da doença, enquanto causa de cegueira. Recomendamos capacitar profissionais da área para detecção e monitoramento de situação epidemiológica e adotar atividades de educação em saúde com enfoque em medidas de controle e prevenção.

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Vila Estrutural (DF) using cluster sampling. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of trachoma in children aged one to nine years, to describe the socio-demographic profile of cases, and to identify possible risk factors associated with the disease. The association measure was prevalence ratio estimated by odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI95%). We sampled 766 children aged 1 to 9 years and found a prevalence of active trachoma of 12.5%. The high prevalence reinforces that the disease remains a public health problem, being necessary to adopt control measures, in order to eliminate the disease as a cause of blindness. We recommend enabling professionals to detect and to monitor the epidemiological situation and adopt health education activities focusing on prevention and control measures.

Avaliação do sistema de vigilância das intoxicações exógenas no âmbito da saúde do trabalhador no Brasil entre 2007 e 2009 / Evaluation of the Brazilian national epidemiological surveillance system for exogenic poisoning in the occupational health from 2007 to 2009

O sistema de vigilância deve ser avaliado periodicamente, visando tornar mais efetivas e ágeis as medidas de controle de eventos adversos à saúde. Dessa forma, os objetivos desse estudo foram avaliar os atributos qualitativos e quantitativos do sistema de vigilância das intoxicações exógenas do Brasil de 2007 a 2009, período em que este se vinculava exclusivamente à Saúde do Trabalhador, por meio do Update Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems. Foi utilizado um formulário estruturado e o banco de dados do SINAN NET como fontes de dados. Dos 27 estados do Brasil, 16 responderam aos questionários. Os dados seguem o fluxo estabelecido pelo SINAN NET sem a definição de uma coordenadoria estadual. Conforme os parâmetros adotados, esse sistema de vigilância foi considerado simples, flexível, oportuno e instável. A qualidade de dados e a representatividade foram regulares; e a sensibilidade e o valor preditivo positivo foram baixos. Recomendamos estabelecer o fluxo do sistema de vigilância dentro das secretarias estaduais e elaborar guia das intoxicações exógenas, definindo os objetivos para esta vigilância.

The surveillance systems should be evaluated periodically with objective to become more agile and effective measures to control adverse health events. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative attributes of the Surveillance System for Exogenic Poisoning in Brazil from 2007 to 2009, during which it was linked exclusively to the Occupational Health. For this purpose, there was used the Update Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems. A structured questionnaires and database SINAN NET was used as data sources. Of the 27 states of Brazil, 16 answered the questionnaires. The data follow the flow established by Brazilian Surveillance System (SINAN NET), however without setting a statewide coordinating body. As the parameters adopted, the Surveillance System for Exogenic Poisoning was considered simple, flexible, timely and unstable. Data quality and representativeness were regular; and the sensitivity and Positive Predictive Value were low. We recommend establishing a Surveillance System's flow within the state and to develop a Guide for Exogenic Poisoning, defining the goals for this surveillance.