Epidemiological surveillance of land borders in North and South America: a case study.

This study aims to analyze the different binational/multinational activities, programs, and structures taking place on the borders of Brazil and the U.S. between 2013 and 2015. A descriptive exploratory study of two border epidemiological surveillance (BES) systems has been performed. Two approaches were used to collect data: i) technical visits to the facilities involved with border surveillance and application of a questionnaire survey; ii) application of an online questionnaire survey. It was identified that, for both surveillance systems, more than 55% of the technicians had realized that the BES and its activities have high priority. Eighty percent of North American and 71% of Brazilian border jurisdictions reported an exchange of information between countries. Less than half of the jurisdictions reported that the necessary tools to carry out information exchange were available. Operational attributes of completeness, feedback, reciprocity, and quality of information were identified as weak or of low quality in both systems. Statements, guidelines, and protocols to develop surveillance activities are available at the U.S.-Mexico border area. The continuous systematic development of surveillance systems at these borders will create more effective actions and responses.

Multinational Disease Surveillance Programs: Promoting Global Information Exchange for Infectious Diseases.

Cross-border surveillance for emerging diseases such as Ebola and other infectious diseases requires effective international collaboration. We surveyed representatives from 12 multinational disease surveillance programs between January 2013 and April 2014. Our survey identified programmatic similarities despite variation in health priorities, geography, and socioeconomic context, providing a contemporary perspective on infectious disease surveillance networks.

Avaliação da vigilância epidemiológica ampliada do rotavírus / Evaluation of rotavirus enhanced epidemiologic surveillance

Conhecer as práticas de vigilância do Rotavírus, identificando os pontos positivos e as dificuldades encontradas através do modelo de avaliação da Vigilância Epidemiológica Ampliada das Doenças Diarreicas por Rotavírus (VER). Métodos: Tratou-se de uma pesquisa avaliativa realizada em dois diferentes estados brasileiros, entre março a novembro de 2010. Participaram da avaliação 14 atores no total (do nível central, estadual e municipal), sendo submetidos a entrevistas gravadas utilizando questionários semiestruturados, além da realização de análise documental e observação direta da rotina do serviço dentro das respectivas unidades. Essas informações permitiram alimentar uma matriz de julgamento e evidenciar os variados aspectos componentes da operacionalização do sistema. Resultados: Foram observados pontos positivos (a sensibilidade de captação de casos, a aceitabilidade do sistema por parte dos técnicos envolvidos, a estrutura física adequada e a capacitação e atualização dos técnicos) e dificuldades operacionais (a escassez de recursos humanos e financeiros, e a baixa oportunidade do sistema de informação) na condução das atividades da vigilância. Conclusão: Os resultados encontrados sugerem a baixa efetividade do sistema de vigilância adotado, indicando que a vigilância do tipo sentinela pode não ser a mais adequada para o sistema de saúde desses estados estudados...

To assess the practices of Rotavirus surveillance, identifying the positive aspects and the difficulties found through the evaluation model from the Enhanced Surveillance of Rotavirus Diarrheal Diseases. Method: This is an evaluative and qualitative research performed in two different Brazilian states between March and November 2010. Participated in the evaluation 14 subjects in total (from central, state and municipal level), which were submitted to tape-recorded interviews using semi-structured questionnaires, along with conduction of document analysis and direct observation of routine service within their respective units. This information allowed to feed a judgment matrix, thus highlighting the various aspects comprising the system operation. Results: Positive aspects were observed (the sensitivity to capture cases, the system acceptability by the technicians involved, the proper physical structure and the training and updating of technicians), and operational difficulties when conducting surveillance activities (the shortage of human and financial resources and the low opportunity of the information system). Conclusion: The results suggest the low effectiveness of the monitoring system adopted, indicating that the sentinel type of surveillance may not be the most appropriate for the health system in the studied states...

Conocer las prácticas de vigilancia del Rotavirus identificando los puntos positivos y las dificultades encontradas a través del modelo de evaluación de la Vigilancia Epidemiológica Ampliada de las Enfermedades Diarreicas por Rotavirus. Métodos: Se trató de una investigación evaluativa realizada em dos estados brasileños distintos entre marzo y noviembre de 2010. En total 14 actores participaron de la evaluación (del nivel central, estadual y municipal), siendo sometidos a entrevistas grabadas utilizando cuestionarios semi-estructurados y la realización de um análisis documental y observación directa de la rutina del servicio en las respectivas unidades. Estas informaciones permitieron fomentar una matriz de juicio y evidenciar los distintos aspectos de la utilización del sistema. Resultados: Fueron observados puntospositivos (la sensibilidad de captación de casos, la aceptabilidad del sistema por parte de los técnicos involucrados, la estructura física adecuada y la captación y actualización de los técnicos) y dificultades operacionales (la escasez de recursos humanos y financieros y la baja oportunidad del sistema de información) em la conducción de las actividades de vigilancia. Conclusión: Los resultados encontrados sugieren baja efectividad del sistema de vigilancia adoptado e indica que la vigilancia del tipo centinela puede que no sea la más adecuada al sistema de salud de los estados investigados...