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Dengue is considered the most important acute febrile arbovirus in the world due to its burden on morbidity and mortality of countries. Cohort studies are appropriate for understanding dengue transmission dynamics and establishing baselines prior to the adoption of new control strategies. However, these studies pose major operational challenges that tend to hinder their execution, especially in developing countries. The strategies used in implanting and conducting a cohort in Central Brazil (city of Goiania) are presented, including the approaches adopted to overcome the challenges observed. The following steps are described and discussed: defining the field work team, establishing partnerships and the recruitment of participants; the initial serosurvey; technology in field research; and monitoring and evaluation of febrile episodes. A partnership between academia and public health services was the adopted approach and participation of the Municipal Health Secretariat and the Family Health Teams was essential for the proper implementation and conduction of the study. In return, the researchers' performance favored the Health Service through surveillance and health care activities of the population. This interinstitutional experience was successful with benefits for both institutions. El dengue es considerado el arbovirus más importante del mundo por su impacto en la morbilidad y mortalidad en los países. Los estudios de cohortes son adecuados para comprender la dinámica de la transmisión del dengue y establecer líneas de base antes de adoptar nuevas estrategias de control. Sin embargo, estos estudios presentan importantes desafíos operativos que tienden a dificultar su ejecución, especialmente en los países en desarrollo. Se presentan las estrategias utilizadas en la implementación y conducción de una cohorte en la región en la ciudad de Goiania-GO, Brasil, incluyendo los enfoques adoptados para superar los desafíos observados. Se describen y discuten los pasos: definir el equipo de trabajo de campo, establecer asociaciones y reclutar participantes; la encuesta serológica inicial; tecnologías en investigación de campo; seguimiento y evaluación de episodios febriles. La alianza entre la academia y los servicios de salud pública y la participación del Departamento de Salud Municipal y los Equipos de Salud de la Familia fueron fundamentales para la correcta ejecución y conducción del estudio. Por otro lado, el trabajo de los investigadores favoreció al Servicio de Salud a través de acciones de vigilancia y atención a la salud de la población. Esta experiencia interinstitucional fue exitosa, con beneficios para ambas instituciones. A dengue é considerada a mais importante arbovirose do mundo pelo seu impacto na morbimortalidade dos países. Estudos de coorte são adequados para compreender a dinâmica da transmissão da dengue e estabelecer linhas de base antes da adoção de novas estratégias de controle. No entanto, esses estudos apresentam grandes desafios operacionais que tendem a dificultar sua execução, especialmente em países em desenvolvimento. As estratégias utilizadas na implantação e condução de uma coorte na região na cidade de Goiânia-GO, Brasil, são apresentadas, incluindo as abordagens adotadas para superar os desafios observados. São descritos e discutidos os passos: definição da equipe de trabalho de campo, estabelecimento de parcerias e recrutamento de participantes; o inquérito sorológico inicial; tecnologias em pesquisa de campo; monitoramento e avaliação dos episódios febris. A parceria entre a academia e os serviços públicos de saúde e a participação da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde e das Equipes de Saúde da Família foram fundamentais para a execução e condução apropriadas do estudo. Em contrapartida, a atuação dos pesquisadores favoreceu o Serviço de Saúde por meio de ações de vigilância e atenção à saúde da população. Essa experiência interinstitucional foi bem-sucedida, com benefícios para ambas as instituições.

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenges public health systems around the world. Tropical countries will face complex epidemiological scenarios involving the simultaneous transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti. The occurrence of arboviral diseases with COVID-19 in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region presents challenges and opportunities for strengthening health services, surveillance and control programs. Financing of training, equipment and reconversion of hospital spaces will have a negative effect on already the limited resource directed to the health sector. The strengthening of the diagnostic infrastructure reappears as an opportunity for the national reference laboratories. Sharing of epidemiological information for the modeling of epidemiological scenarios allows collaboration between health, academic and scientific institutions. The fear of contagion by COVID-19 is constraining people with arboviral diseases to search for care which can lead to an increase in serious cases and could disrupt the operation of vector-control programs due to the reluctance of residents to open their doors to health personnel. Promoting intense community participation along with the incorporation of long lasting innovations in vector control offers new opportunities for control. The COVID-19 pandemic offers challenges and opportunities that must provoke positive behavioral changes and encourage more permanent self-care actions.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the temporal patterns of dengue incidence from 2001 to 2014 and forecast for 2015 in two Brazilian cities. We analysed dengue surveillance data (SINAN) from Recife, 1.6 million population, and Goiania, 1.4 million population. We used Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modelling of monthly notified dengue incidence (2001-2014). Forecasting models (95% prediction interval) were developed to predict numbers of dengue cases for 2015. During the study period, 73,479 dengue cases were reported in Recife varying from 11 cases/100,000 inhab (2004) to 2418 cases/100,000 inhab (2002). In Goiania, 253,008 dengue cases were reported and the yearly incidence varied from 293 cases/100,000 inhab (2004) to 3927 cases/100,000 inhab (2013). Trend was the most important component for Recife, while seasonality was the most important one in Goiania. For Recife, the best fitted model was ARIMA (1,1,3)12 and for Goiania Seasonal ARIMA (1,0,2) (1,1,2)12. The model predicted 4254 dengue cases for Recife in 2015; SINAN registered 35,724 cases. For Goiania the model predicted 33,757 cases for 2015; the reported number of cases by SINAN was 74,095, within the 95% prediction interval. The difference between notified and forecasted dengue cases in Recife can be explained by the co-circulation of dengue and Zika virus in 2015. In this year, all cases with rash were notified as "dengue-like" illness. The ARIMA models may be considered a baseline for the time series analysis of dengue incidence before the Zika epidemic.

Resumo Objetivo: descrever os desafios da implantação do sistema de vigilância e prevenção de chikungunya no Brasil. Métodos: estudo descritivo dos casos suspeitos da doença notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) entre 2014 e 2016. Resultados: no período estudado, foram notificados mais de 100 mil casos prováveis de chikungunya no país, com maior concentração nos estados do Nordeste (83,3% entre 2014 e 2015; 91,0% em 2016); o Sinan apresentou excelente oportunidade de encerramento dos casos entre 2014 e 2015 (85%) e alta completitude das variáveis obrigatórias. Conclusão: com a introdução de chikungunya no Brasil em 2014, houve um preparo prévio em termos de Saúde Pública para minimizar seus efeitos na sociedade; a implantação do sistema de vigilância ampliou a coleta de informações da doença, embora muitos desafios mostrem-se evidentes na prática, haja vista a incidência crescente de casos, demandando maior capacidade operante desse setor.

OBJETIVO: estimar os custos do Programa Municipal de Controle da Dengue de Goiânia-GO, Brasil. MÉTODOS: estudo de custo de programa considerando períodos epidêmico (outubro/2009-abril/2010) e endêmico (maio-setembro/2010) de transmissão da doença, na perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS); os componentes de custo analisados foram recursos humanos, capacitação, infraestrutura, equipamentos de escritório, transporte, equipamentos de proteção individual, material de campo, material laboratorial, inseticidas e mobilização social; custos de capital (investimento) e recorrentes foram considerados. RESULTADOS: a média mensal de custos recorrentes foi de R$1.355.760 (US$814,075) e R$981.100 (US$589,108) nos períodos epidêmico e endêmico respectivamente; o custo de capital anual foi estimado em R$683.315 (US$410,301); cerca de 82%, 15% e 3% do custo total referem-se, respectivamente, às fontes de recurso municipal, federal e estadual. CONCLUSÃO: o custo adicional resultante das epidemias de dengue fornece subsídios para um melhor planejamento das atividades de prevenção e controle da infecção. OBJECTIVE: to estimate the cost of the Municipal Program for Dengue Control in Goiânia, GO, Brazil. METHODS: Costs of program considering epidemic (October/2009-April/2010) and endemic (May-September/2010) periods of dengue transmission, from the perspective of the National Unified Health System (SUS); cost components considered were human resources, training, infrastructure, office equipment, transportation, personal protective equipment, field equipment, laboratory equipment, insecticides and social mobilization; capital (investment) and recurring costs were considered. RESULTS: average monthly recurring costs were R$1,355,760 (US$814,075) and R$981,100 (US$589,108), for the epidemic and endemic periods, respectively; annual capital cost was R$683,315 (US$410,301); approximately 82%, 15% and 3% of the total cost were from municipal, federal and state level funding sources, respectively. CONCLUSION: estimated incremental costs resulting from dengue epidemics provide information to support planning of dengue prevention and control activities. OBJETIVO: estimar los costos del Programa Municipal de Control de Dengue en el municipio de Goiânia-GO, Brasil. MÉTODOS: estudio de costos del programa teniendo en cuenta períodos epidémicos (octubre/2009-abril/2010) y endémicos (mayo-septiembre/2010) de la transmisión de dengue; dentro de la perspectiva del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS); los componentes de los costos analizados fueron recursos humanos, capacitación, infraestructura, equipo de oficina, transporte, equipo de protección personal, equipo de campo, materiales de laboratorio, insecticidas y movilización social, teniendo en cuenta los costos de capital (inversión) y recurrentes. RESULTADOS: el valor mensual de costos recurrentes fue R$1.355.760 (US$814,075) y R$981.100 (US$589,108), en los períodos epidémicos y endémicos, respectivamente; los costos de capital durante el periodo de estudio fueron R$683,315 (US$410,301); alrededor de 82%, 15% y 3% de los costos totales fueron de fuente municipal, federal y estatal, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: el conocimiento de los costos adicionales resultantes de las epidemias de dengue puede apoyar a una mejor planificación de las actividades de prevención y control del dengue.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a tendência temporal da mortalidade por Acidentes de Transporte Terrestre (ATT) e identificar a existência e a localização de aglomerados de alto risco de mortes por ATT. METODOLOGIA: Estudo descritivo de tendência da mortalidade por ATT, pedestre, ocupante de motocicleta e de veículo, de 2000 a 2010 e análise espacial para 2000 e 2010. Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade; calcularam-se as taxas padronizadas por idade, para Unidades Federadas (UF) e municípios por porte populacional. RESULTADOS: A taxa de mortalidade por ATT entre 2000 e 2010 variou de 18 para 22,5 óbitos/100 mil habitantes. O risco de morte para pedestre reduziu, os de ocupantes de veículos e de motocicletas apresentaram crescimento. O maior risco de morte por ATT ocorreu nos municípios com até 20 mil habitantes e nos de 20 a 100 mil. A análise espacial mostrou os aglomerados de risco para ATT e para ocupantes de motocicletas com aumento destes entre 2000 e 2010 e ampliação das áreas com maior risco na região Nordeste. CONCLUSÃO: Aumento das taxas de mortalidade por ATT principalmente na região Nordeste. Faz-se necessário uma atuação coordenada do governo, da sociedade civil e dos próprios cidadãos no enfretamento desta realidade.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trends of mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as well as identify the existence and location of high risk death clusters for RTA using spatial analysis. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive study of temporal trends by RTA, pedestrians, motorcyclists, motorists and passengers and spatial analysis for 2000 and 2010. The data was obtained from the Mortality Information System, and standardized rates were calculated by age in Brazilian states and municipalities grouped by population size. RESULTS: The mortality rates due to RTA between 2000 and 2010 varied from 18 to 22.5 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. The risk of death for pedestrians decreased in recent years, though motorists, motorcyclists and passengers saw a rising trend. A higher risk of death by RTA occurred in municipalities with populations up to 20,000 inhabitants and in those from 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. Spatial analysis revealed risk clusters for RTA and motorcyclists and pillion riders with an increase between 2000 and 2010 and enlargement of the areas most at risk in the Northeast. CONCLUSION: Increase in the rates of mortality by RTA mostly in the Northeast. Coordinated action between government, civil society and the citizens themselves is required to tackle this problem.

OBJETIVO: avaliar a qualidade dos dados, o valor preditivo positivo (VPP), a oportunidade e a representatividade do sistema de vigilância epidemiológica da dengue no Brasil entre 2005 e 2009. MÉTODOS: estudo de avaliação, com análise dos dados de dengue do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) conforme atributos selecionados da metodologia do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta/GA, Estados Unidos da América). RESULTADOS: houve melhora na qualidade dos dados quanto a sua consistência; o VPP dos casos de dengue variou de 34 a 65%; o sistema apresentou uma mediana de oportunidade para notificação dos casos de 3 dias e revelou-se representativo, permitindo conhecer a situação da doença no país. CONCLUSÃO: o sistema de vigilância da dengue no Brasil mostrou-se consistente, com valor preditivo positivo expressivo, oportuno para notificação de casos e representativo, capaz de detectar tendência de mudança no perfil epidemiológico da doença.

Background In Brazil, dengue endemic and epidemic patterns indicate an upward trend in incidence and hospitalization in the past decade. Objective To report dengue circulating serotypes from 1994 to 2003 and the role of distinct serotypes on dengue clinical outcomes in Central Brazil. Methods Virological surveillance for dengue cases was conducted in the city of Goiania (∼1,200,000 population) from 1994 to 2003. Samples were tested using dengue IgM antibody (MAC–ELISA) and/or virus isolation. Circulating subtypes and genotypes were identified by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and by restricted site-specific PCR (RSS-PCR) patterns in selected samples. Results Adults (87.4%) were the most affected group and dengue fever accounted for the majority of the cases. Laboratory surveillance identified mainly DEN 1 serotype from 1994 to 2002 shifting to a high circulation of DEN 3 in 2003. The ratio of dengue fever to dengue with complications/DHF remained constant following the introduction of DEN 3. Diagnosis of dengue was confirmed in ∼50% of the suspected cases enhanced by RT-PCR. RSS-PCR patterns for DEN 1 and DEN 3 corresponded to the circulating subtypes in the country. Conclusions The result of virological surveillance did not suggest a major role of infecting DEN 3 serotype in increasing disease severity during its first-year spread in Central Brazil.

OBJETIVO: avaliar os atributos de aceitabilidade e estabilidade do sistema de vigilância da dengue no estado de Goiás, Brasil, em 2011. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo utilizando o método do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/USA), com aplicação de questionário a profissionais envolvidos na vigilância da dengue. RESULTADOS: 134 profissionais participaram do estudo, representando 41,5% (102/246) dos municípios goianos; dificuldades para o encerramento dos casos graves foram referidas por 34,5% dos coordenadores de vigilância; aproximadamente 70% dos participantes informaram desconhecer a existência de um plano de contingência para o enfrentamento de epidemias de dengue e 59% responderam que todos os casos suspeitos de dengue deveriam ser confirmados laboratorialmente, independentemente da ocorrência de epidemias; para 75% dos entrevistados, a digitação das fichas de notificação/investigação foi realizada sem intercorrências. CONCLUSÃO: o sistema de vigilância da dengue apresentou funcionamento estável; porém, as limitações observadas remetem à necessidade de seu aprimoramento.

Background Maternal dengue antibodies are considered to play a significant role in dengue pathogenesis among infants. Determining the transplacental specific antibody transfer is invaluable for establishing the optimal vaccination age among infants in endemic regions. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among pairs of maternal and corresponding umbilical cord blood samples in public hospitals. The prevalence and incidence of dengue infection were determined in 505 pairs of pregnant women and neonates during a large outbreak (2009–2010) in central Brazil. The women were interviewed at late pregnancy to assess current or past symptoms of dengue. All parturients and their neonates were screened using Dengue IgG Indirect ELISA (Panbio) to assess previous dengue exposure. A semi-quantitative measurement of the IgG antibody expressed by the index ratio was calculated using optical density (OD) values according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The studied population of parturients and their offspring was also screened for recent dengue infection by the Dengue IgM-capture ELISA (Panbio). Those participants with history of fever and two or more symptoms of dengue at least 10 days before the delivery were also tested for the dengue NS1 antigen using the Dengue Early ELISA (Panbio) and RT-PCR. Results The mean maternal age was 25.8 (SD = 6.4), and 83.6% of deliveries were between 37 and 41 weeks. Approximately half of the 505 women and neonates were IgG-seropositive, yielding 99.3% co-positive mother-child frequency of antibody transfer (Kappa = 0.96). The incidence of dengue infection was 2.8% (95% CI 1.4–4.4%) among the women considering 14 IgM-positive results and one DENV2 detected by RT-PCR. The dengue NS1 antigen was undetectable in the matched pairs. Conclusion This study provides critical data on the prevalence of transplacental transferred maternal-infant anti-dengue antibodies and incidence of infection. The design of future vaccine trials should consider diverse regional epidemiological scenarios.

To analyze the temporal trends of mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as well as identify the existence and location of high risk death clusters for RTA using spatial analysis.Descriptive study of temporal trends by RTA, pedestrians, motorcyclists, motorists and passengers and spatial analysis for 2000 and 2010. The data was obtained from the Mortality Information System, and standardized rates were calculated by age in Brazilian states and municipalities grouped by population size.The mortality rates due to RTA between 2000 and 2010 varied from 18 to 22.5 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. The risk of death for pedestrians decreased in recent years, though motorists, motorcyclists and passengers saw a rising trend. A higher risk of death by RTA occurred in municipalities with populations up to 20,000 inhabitants and in those from 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. Spatial analysis revealed risk clusters for RTA and motorcyclists and pillion riders with an increase between 2000 and 2010 and enlargement of the areas most at risk in the Northeast.Increase in the rates of mortality by RTA mostly in the Northeast. Coordinated action between government, civil society and the citizens themselves is required to tackle this problem.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a tendência temporal da mortalidade por Acidentes de Transporte Terrestre (ATT) e identificar a existência e a localização de aglomerados de alto risco de mortes por ATT. METODOLOGIA: Estudo descritivo de tendência da mortalidade por ATT, pedestre, ocupante de motocicleta e de veículo, de 2000 a 2010 e análise espacial para 2000 e 2010. Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade; calcularam-se as taxas padronizadas por idade, para Unidades Federadas (UF) e municípios por porte populacional. RESULTADOS: A taxa de mortalidade por ATT entre 2000 e 2010 variou de 18 para 22,5 óbitos/100 mil habitantes. O risco de morte para pedestre reduziu, os de ocupantes de veículos e de motocicletas apresentaram crescimento. O maior risco de morte por ATT ocorreu nos municípios com até 20 mil habitantes e nos de 20 a 100 mil. A análise espacial mostrou os aglomerados de risco para ATT e para ocupantes de motocicletas com aumento destes entre 2000 e 2010 e ampliação das áreas com maior risco na região Nordeste. CONCLUSÃO: Aumento das taxas de mortalidade por ATT principalmente na região Nordeste. Faz-se necessário uma atuação coordenada do governo, da sociedade civil e dos próprios cidadãos no enfretamento desta realidade. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trends of mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as well as identify the existence and location of high risk death clusters for RTA using spatial analysis. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive study of temporal trends by RTA, pedestrians, motorcyclists, motorists and passengers and spatial analysis for 2000 and 2010. The data was obtained from the Mortality Information System, and standardized rates were calculated by age in Brazilian states and municipalities grouped by population size. RESULTS: The mortality rates due to RTA between 2000 and 2010 varied from 18 to 22.5 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. The risk of death for pedestrians decreased in recent years, though motorists, motorcyclists and passengers saw a rising trend. A higher risk of death by RTA occurred in municipalities with populations up to 20,000 inhabitants and in those from 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. Spatial analysis revealed risk clusters for RTA and motorcyclists and pillion riders with an increase between 2000 and 2010 and enlargement of the areas most at risk in the Northeast. CONCLUSION: Increase in the rates of mortality by RTA mostly in the Northeast. Coordinated action between government, civil society and the citizens themselves is required to tackle this problem.

Dengue is nowadays considered a growing public health problem worldwide. Several outbreaks of dengue have occurred in Brazil in the last two decades, and the country is now considered an endemic area where risk areas for sylvatic yellow fever also coexist. The current manuscript reviews the main epidemiological features of dengue in the world focusing in the peculiarities of the infection/disease progression in Brazil and, specifically, in Central-West Brazil. Some issues related to the challenge of control in the Central-West region and the opportunities for research are also discussed. In Brazil, the re-introduction of the vector (Aedes aegypti) dates 1976-77. The city of Rio de Janeiro (Southeast Brazil) was considered the starting point of viral dispersion to coastal and inland areas, since the first epidemic (DENV-1) in 1986. Brazil reports approximately 70% of the dengue cases in the Americas with the co-circulation of 3 dengue subtypes (DENV-1; DENV-2 and DENV-3). The disease affects mainly the adult population and the surveillance system has detected an increasing trend to hospitalization, disease severity and incidence in children and adolescents. Approximately 500,000 of dengue cases and 158 deaths were reported in 2007 compared to approximately 300,000 and 77 deaths in the previous year in Brazil. The first epidemic in Goias State (Central-West Brazil) was reported in 1994. Nowadays the three serotypes co-circulate with high incidence rates and a large outbreak was reported in the city of Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul State) (45,843 registered cases). The recent increase in cases related to sylvatic yellow fever, mainly in Goias State, represents a public health warning related to vector surveillance and control.

This study examined the spatial distribution of childhood community-acquired pneumonia detected through prospective surveillance in Goiânia, Brazil. Three spatial analysis techniques were applied to detect intra-urban geographic aggregation of pneumonia cases: Kernel method, nearest neighbor hierarchical technique, and spatial scan statistic. A total of 724 pneumonia cases confirmed by chest radiography were identified from May 2000 to August 2001. All cases were geocoded on a digital map. The annual pneumonia risk rate was estimated at 566 cases/100,000 children. Analysis using traditional descriptive epidemiology showed a mosaic distribution of pneumonia rates, while GIS methodologies showed a non-random pattern with hot spots of pneumonia. Cluster analysis by spatial scan statistic identified two high-risk areas for pneumonia occurrence, including one most likely cluster (RR = 2.1; p < 0.01) and one secondary cluster (RR = 1.3; p = 0.01). The data used for the study are in line with recent WHO-led efforts to improve and standardize pediatric pneumonia surveillance in developing countries and show how GIS and spatial analysis can be applied to discriminate target areas of pneumonia for public heath intervention.