Unveiling the Impact of the Omicron Variant: Insights from Genomic Surveillance in Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest Brazil.

Genomic surveillance has emerged as a crucial tool in monitoring and understanding the dynamics of viral variants during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Midwest region of Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul has faced a significant burden from the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, with a total of 613,000 confirmed cases as of June 2023. In collaboration with the Central Public Health Laboratory in the capital city of Campo Grande, we conducted a portable whole-genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis to investigate the circulation of the Omicron variant in the region. The study aimed to uncover the genomic landscape and provide valuable insights into the prevalence and transmission patterns of this highly transmissible variant. Our findings revealed an increase in the number of cases within the region during 2022, followed by a gradual decline as a result of the successful impact of the vaccination program together with the capacity of this unpredictable and very transmissible variant to quickly affect the proportion of susceptible population. Genomic data indicated multiple introduction events, suggesting that human mobility played a differential role in the variant's dispersion dynamics throughout the state. These findings emphasize the significance of implementing public health interventions to mitigate further spread and highlight the powerful role of genomic monitoring in promptly tracking and uncovering the circulation of viral strains. Together those results underscore the importance of proactive surveillance, rapid genomic sequencing, and data sharing to facilitate timely public health responses.

Percepções sobre o tratamento de homens com diagnóstico de sífilis: uma síntese rápida de evidências qualitativas / Perceptions about the treatment of men diagnosed with syphilis: a rapid synthesis of qualitative evidence

A sífilis atinge mais de 12 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo e os homens são importante fonte de transmissão para suas parcerias, quando inadequadamente diagnosticados e tratados. Fatores individuais relacionados aos homens podem ser importantes barreiras para buscar e aderir ao tratamento adequado. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever aspectos relacionados ao tratamento de homens com diagnóstico de sífilis, na percepção deles de suas parcerias e de profissionais de saúde.Foi conduzida uma síntese rápida de evidências qualitativas, a partir da análise de estudos primários qualitativos e posterior descrição dos resultados.