Outbreak of rubella after mass vaccination of children and adult women: challenges for rubella elimination strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe rubella outbreaks and control strategies in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul before rubella elimination. METHODS: We analyzed rubella and congenital rubella syndrome surveillance data for the state of Rio Grande do Sul and calculated age- and gender-specific incidence of confirmed rubella cases in 2007. We obtained data on measles-rubella doses administered during the outbreak from the state immunization program and reviewed the timing of suspect case notification and implementation of control measures. RESULTS: Of 2,842 confirmed rubella cases reported to the state health department in 2007, 2,145 (75.5%) were in males (39.5 cases per 100,000 population) and 697 (24.5%) were in females (12.3 per 100,000 population). Incidence among 15- to 39-year-olds was 1.8 to 5.5 times higher in males than in females. Rubella genotype 2B was detected in nasopharyngeal specimens from 13 patients from multiple chains of transmission. Eight children were born with congenital rubella syndrome (5.9 cases per 100 000 births in 2008). Delayed notification of initial cases hampered early control efforts, resulting in outbreak spread throughout the state. Rubella transmission was interrupted after mass vaccination of adult men and women as part of a national vaccination campaign. CONCLUSIONS: Routine vaccination strategies and mass vaccination of adolescents and adults for accelerated rubella control and elimination should target men and women.

Contaminated water confirmed as source of infection by bioassay in an outbreak of toxoplasmosis in South Brazil.

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is a causative agent of toxoplasmosis, an important and widespread zoonotic disease. The transmission of this disease in humans includes ingestion of sporulated oocysts present in contaminated water or food. T. gondii oocysts are widely distributed and toxoplasmosis is considered a major food- and waterborne pathogen worldwide, making drinking water containing sporulated T. gondii oocysts a major source of contamination for people. In the first half of 2018, an unprecedented outbreak of toxoplasmosis was reported in the city of Santa Maria, southern Brazil. The temporal and spatial distribution of the cases strongly suggested a waterborne infection. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate a possible involvement of treated water as a source of the outbreak. For this, piglets received potentially contaminated water ad libitum for 21 days and the infection was monitored by serology through IFAT and investigation of T. gondii DNA in tissues by PCR amplification of a 529 bp followed by mouse bioassays. All piglets receiving test water ad libitum for 21 days as well as positive controls seroconverted to T. gondii. T. gondii DNA was detected in 62.5% of the piglets that received test water. All mice inoculated with tissues from each positive piglet were PCR-positive. These results strongly indicated the presence of viable oocysts in the test water administered to the animals during the study.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from placental tissues of pregnant women who received toxoplasmosis treatment during an outbreak in southern Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan that has great genetic diversity and is prevalent worldwide. In 2018, an outbreak of toxoplasmosis occurred in Santa Maria, Brazil, which was considered the largest outbreak ever described in the world. This paper describes the isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from the placenta of two pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis who had live births and were receiving treatment for toxoplasmosis during the outbreak. For this, placental tissue samples from two patients underwent isolation by mice bioassay, conventional PCR and genotyping using PCR-RFLP with twelve markers. Both samples were positive in isolation in mice. The isolate was lethal to mice, suggesting high virulence. In addition, the samples were positive in conventional PCR and isolates submitted to PCR-RFLP genotyping presented an atypical genotype, which had never been described before. This research contributes to the elucidation of this great outbreak in Brazil.

Isolation, genetic and immunohistochemical identification of Toxoplasma gondii from human placenta in a large toxoplasmosis outbreak in southern Brazil, 2018.

The present study aimed to describe a molecular analysis of environmental and pork samples, the isolation, genetic identification and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of Toxoplama gondii from placenta and amniotic fluid from five pregnant women that miscarried during a toxoplasmosis outbreak in 2018, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. Environmental and pork samples were submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR); placenta and amniotic fluid samples to histopathology, IHC, mouse bioassay and PCR. All samples were genotyped by PCR-RFLP with 11 loci. Histopathologic and IHC were compatibles with toxoplasmosis. All pregnants were positive in PCR and bioassay, the genotypes were compared, and all were equal suggesting a same source of infection. Among the environmental and food samples, a sludge sample from a water tank and two porks samples were positive in PCR, and the genotypes were different from the pregnant women isolates. It is concluded that obtain and compare isolates is essential to elucidate outbreak source.

Avaliação do sistema de vigilância em saúde do trabalhador relacionada aos acidentes de trabalho, antes e após a implantação do software de linkage Sentinela, em Porto Alegre, 2018-2021 / Evaluation of the occupational health surveillance system before and after the implementation of the Sentinela linkage software, in Porto Alegre, 2018-2021 / Evaluación del sistema de vigilancia de la salud del trabajador relacionada con los accidentes de trabajo, antes y después de la implementación del software de enlace Sentinela, en Porto Alegre, 2018-2021

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar, segundo alguns atributos, o sistema de vigilância dos acidentes de trabalho antes e após a implantação do software Sentinela (2018-2021), com base em uma pesquisa descritiva de dados secundários, e efetuar recomendações. Foram analisadas variáveis da ficha de investigação, de acordo com os atributos qualidade dos dados (completitude e consistência), oportunidade e representatividade. Os resultados mostraram que, após o Sentinela, houve aumento da notificação de acidentes (66,16%), maior completitude das variáveis, com importante alteração na 'atividade econômica' (98,9%) e 'evolução' (96,3%), diminuição dos campos ignorados/em branco, com destaque para o campo 'evolução' (3,7%), e melhora na oportunidade de controle dos acidentes fatais (79 dias). Concluímos que a vigilância dos acidentes de trabalho tem excelente qualidade dos dados, é representativa, mas inoportuna. O Sentinela melhorou o sistema, tornando-o mais sensível na captação dos acidentes e permitindo-lhe ter informações de melhor qualidade. É necessária a avaliação rotineira dos atributos, para aprimoramento constante do sistema, assim como rever as rotinas das equipes de saúde, melhorando a oportunidade de controle por meio de suas ações

This article aims to evaluate the occupational health surveillance system before and after the implementa-tion of the Sentinela software (2018-2021), according to some attributes and based on descriptive research using secondary data, and to make recommendations. Variables of the accident investigation report were analysed, according to the attributes of data quality (completeness and consistency), opportunity and rep-resentativeness. The results have revealed that after Sentinela, there was an increase in the notification of accidents (66.16%), greater completeness of the variables, with an important change in 'economic activity' (98.9%) and 'evolution' (96.3%), a decreased in blank fields/information missing, with emphasis on the 'evolution' field (3.7%), and an improvement in the opportunity to control fatal accidents (79 days). We have concluded that the surveillance of the occupational accidents has excellent data quality, is representative, but inopportune. The Sentinela has improved the system, making it more sensitive in capturing accidents, allowing it to provide better quality of information. An evaluation of the attributes is routinely necessary to constantly improve the system, as well as reviewing the routines of health professionals, improving the opportunity to control by their actions

El objetivo de este artículo es evaluar, según algunos atributos, el sistema de vigilancia de los accidentes de trabajo antes y después de la implementación del software Sentinela (2018-2021), por medio de una investigación descriptiva de datos secundarios, y hacer recomendaciones. Fueron analizadas variables de la ficha de investigación de accidentes, de acuerdo con los atributos de calidad de los datos (completitud y consistencia), oportunidad y representatividad. Los resultados demostraron que, después del Sentinela, ha habido un aumento de la notificación de accidentes (66,16 %), una mayor completitud de las variables, con un cambio importante en 'actividad económica' (98,9 %) y 'evolución' (96,3 %), una disminución de campos ignorados/en blanco, con énfasis en el campo 'evolución' (3,7%), y mejora en la probabilidad de control de los accidentes mortales (79 días). Concluimos que la vigilancia de los accidentes de trabajo tiene excelente calidad de datos, es representativa, pero inoportuna. El Sentinela ha mejorado el sistema, haciéndolo más sensible en la captación de los accidentes y permitiéndole tener informaciones de mejor calidad. La evaluación de los atributos con regularidad es necesaria para el perfeccionamiento constante del sistema, así como la revisión de las rutinas de los equipos de salud, mejorando la oportunidad de control a través de sus acciones

Identification of priority Health Regions in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for Health Surveillance actions. / Identificação das Regiões de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, prioritárias para ações de Vigilância em Saúde.

This paper aimed to identify the priority Health Regions of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) to implement Health Surveillance strengthening actions. This is a descriptive study with data from time series of 11 (eleven) Health Surveillance indicators of the Ministry of Health's 2016 Guidelines, Objectives, Targets and Indicators Journal agreed by the Bipartite Interagency Committee/RS. The selected indicators are synthesized to produce a Composite Health Surveillance Assessment Indicator (ICAVES) for each of the 30 Health Regions of the state, creating values ranging from zero (worst) to 1 (best), using the Human Development Index (HDI) construction calculation method. The lowest rates of the composite indicator are found in the Health Regions "20-Rota da Produção" and "19-Região do Botucaraí". These two Health Regions are priorities for the strengthening of collective Health Surveillance actions and the management of health risks and diseases, considering horizontal equity as guideline of the Unified Health System.

Resumo O presente artigo identifica as Regiões de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) prioritárias com vistas a implementar ações para o fortalecimento da Vigilância em Saúde. Estudo descritivo com dados da série histórica de 11 (onze) indicadores de Vigilância em Saúde do Caderno de Diretrizes, Objetivos, Metas e Indicadores 2016, do Ministério da Saúde pactuados pela Comissão Intergestores Bipartite/RS. Os indicadores selecionados são sintetizados para produzir um Indicador Composto de Avaliação da Vigilância em Saúde (ICAVES) para cada uma das 30 Regiões de Saúde do estado, criando valores que variam de 0 (pior) a 1 (melhor), tendo como método de cálculo o utilizado para a construção do Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH). Os menores índices do indicador composto estão nas Regiões de Saúde: 20-Rota da Produção e 19-Região do Botucaraí. As Regiões de Saúde 20 e 19 são prioritárias para o fortalecimento das ações de âmbito coletivo da Vigilância em Saúde e o gerenciamento de riscos e agravos à saúde considerando a equidade horizontal como diretriz do Sistema Único de Saúde.

[Nutritional status and social determinants of child height in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, Southern Brazil]. / Estado nutricional e fatores associados à estatura de crianças da Terra Indígena Guarita, Sul do Brasil.

The nutritional status of under-five children and the association between social conditions and child stature were examined using data from the program to control malnutrition and mortality in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, southern Brazil, 2001-2002. Anthropometric indices were calculated in z-scores of the CDC 2000 reference. At entrance into the program, 34.7% of the children presented stunting, 12.9% low weight for age, 4.2% wasting, and 8.7% overweight. Stunting was most prevalent among boys and children older than one year. Multivariate linear regression showed that, on average, children were shorter when the drinking water was collected directly in the environment (p = 0.046), there was no refrigerator for food preservation (p = 0.021), maternal age was less than 16 years at the birth of the oldest child among the under-fives (p = 0.019), and the mother was illiterate (p = 0.083). Sewage facilities only had an effect on the unadjusted model. There was no evidence that the number of under-five children had an effect on stature. Social inclusion policies and health and social provision which takes these factors into account are potentially relevant for improving health and nutrition in this population.

Identificação das Regiões de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, prioritárias para ações de Vigilância em Saúde / Identification of priority Health Regions in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for Health Surveillance actions

Resumo O presente artigo identifica as Regiões de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) prioritárias com vistas a implementar ações para o fortalecimento da Vigilância em Saúde. Estudo descritivo com dados da série histórica de 11 (onze) indicadores de Vigilância em Saúde do Caderno de Diretrizes, Objetivos, Metas e Indicadores 2016, do Ministério da Saúde pactuados pela Comissão Intergestores Bipartite/RS. Os indicadores selecionados são sintetizados para produzir um Indicador Composto de Avaliação da Vigilância em Saúde (ICAVES) para cada uma das 30 Regiões de Saúde do estado, criando valores que variam de 0 (pior) a 1 (melhor), tendo como método de cálculo o utilizado para a construção do Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH). Os menores índices do indicador composto estão nas Regiões de Saúde: 20-Rota da Produção e 19-Região do Botucaraí. As Regiões de Saúde 20 e 19 são prioritárias para o fortalecimento das ações de âmbito coletivo da Vigilância em Saúde e o gerenciamento de riscos e agravos à saúde considerando a equidade horizontal como diretriz do Sistema Único de Saúde.

Abstract This paper aimed to identify the priority Health Regions of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) to implement Health Surveillance strengthening actions. This is a descriptive study with data from time series of 11 (eleven) Health Surveillance indicators of the Ministry of Health's 2016 Guidelines, Objectives, Targets and Indicators Journal agreed by the Bipartite Interagency Committee/RS. The selected indicators are synthesized to produce a Composite Health Surveillance Assessment Indicator (ICAVES) for each of the 30 Health Regions of the state, creating values ranging from zero (worst) to 1 (best), using the Human Development Index (HDI) construction calculation method. The lowest rates of the composite indicator are found in the Health Regions "20-Rota da Produção" and "19-Região do Botucaraí". These two Health Regions are priorities for the strengthening of collective Health Surveillance actions and the management of health risks and diseases, considering horizontal equity as guideline of the Unified Health System.

Outbreak of rubella after mass vaccination of children and adult women: challenges for rubella elimination strategies / Brote epidémico de rubéola tras la vacunación masiva de niños y mujeres adultas: un reto para las estrategias de eliminación de la rubéola

OBJECTIVE: To describe rubella outbreaks and control strategies in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul before rubella elimination. METHODS: We analyzed rubella and congenital rubella syndrome surveillance data for the state of Rio Grande do Sul and calculated age- and gender-specific incidence of confirmed rubella cases in 2007. We obtained data on measles-rubella doses administered during the outbreak from the state immunization program and reviewed the timing of suspect case notification and implementation of control measures. RESULTS: Of 2 842 confirmed rubella cases reported to the state health department in 2007, 2 145 (75.5 percent) were in males (39.5 cases per 100 000 population) and 697 (24.5 percent) were in females (12.3 per 100 000 population). Incidence among 15- to 39-year-olds was 1.8 to 5.5 times higher in males than in females. Rubella genotype 2B was detected in nasopharyngeal specimens from 13 patients from multiple chains of transmission. Eight children were born with congenital rubella syndrome (5.9 cases per 100 000 births in 2008). Delayed notification of initial cases hampered early control efforts, resulting in outbreak spread throughout the state. Rubella transmission was interrupted after mass vaccination of adult men and women as part of a national vaccination campaign. CONCLUSIONS: Routine vaccination strategies and mass vaccination of adolescents and adults for accelerated rubella control and elimination should target men and women.

OBJETIVO: Describir los brotes de rubéola y las estrategias para el control de la enfermedad anteriores a la eliminación de la rubéola en el estado brasileño de Rio Grande do Sul. MÉTODOS: Se analizaron los datos de vigilancia epidemiológica sobre la rubéola y el síndrome de rubéola congénita del estado de Rio Grande do Sul y se calculó la incidencia específica por edad y sexo de los casos confirmados de rubéola en el 2007. A partir del programa de vacunación estatal se obtuvieron datos sobre las dosis de vacunación antisarampionosa y antirrubeólica administradas durante el brote y se analizaron el momento de notificación de los casos sospechosos y la puesta en práctica de medidas de control. RESULTADOS: De los 2842 casos confirmados de rubéola notificados al departamento de salud estatal en el 2007, 2 145 (75,5 por ciento) correspondieron a hombres (39,5 casos por 100000 habitantes) y 697 (24,5 por ciento) a mujeres (12,3 por 100000 habitantes). La incidencia en las personas de 15 a 39 años de edad fue de 1,8 a 5,5 veces mayor en los varones que en las mujeres. En 13 pacientes provenientes de distintas cadenas de transmisión se detectó el genotipo 2B del virus de la rubéola en muestras obtenidas de la nasofaringe. Nacieron 8 niños con síndrome de rubéola congénita (5,9 casos por 100000 nacimientos en el 2008). La demora en la notificación de los casos iniciales obstaculizó la adopción temprana de medidas de control, lo que hizo que el brote se propagara a todo el estado. La transmisión de la rubéola se interrumpió después de la vacunación masiva de varones y mujeres adultos como parte de una campaña nacional de vacunación. CONCLUSIONES: Las estrategias de vacunación sistemática y la vacunación masiva de adolescentes y adultos tendientes a acelerar el control y la eliminación de la rubéola deben dirigirse tanto a varones como a mujeres.

Estado nutricional e fatores associados à estatura de criancas da Terra Indígena Guarita, Sul do Brasil / Nutritional status and social determinants of child height in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, Southern Brazil

O estado nutricional de criancas menores de cinco anos e fatores associados à estatura foram estudados usando dados de um programa para controle da desnutricão e mortalidade na Terra Indígena Guarita, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2001/2002. índices antropométricos foram calculados em escores-z da referência CDC/2000. Na primeira avaliacão pelo programa, 34,7 por cento, das criancas apresentavam baixa estatura, 12,9 por cento baixo peso para idade, 4,2 por cento baixo peso para estatura e 8,7 por cento sobrepeso. Baixa estatura foi mais prevalente em meninos e maiores de um ano. Modelos de regressão linear múltipla sugerem que a altura foi, em média, menor quando a água para alimentacão era de fonte/poco/rio (p = 0,046), não havia geladeira para conservar alimentos (p = 0,021), a mãe era menor de 16 anos ao nascimento do mais velho entre os filhos menores de cinco anos (p = 0,019) e analfabeta (p = 0,083). O destino dos dejetos evidenciou efeito apenas no modelo bruto. Não houve evidência de efeito do número de filhos menores de cinco anos. Políticas de inclusão social e provisão de recursos sociais e de saúde são potencialmente relevantes para a saúde e nutricão nessa populacão.