AimsTo determine the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in Colombian newborns from 19 hospital or maternal child health services from seven different cities of five natural geographic regions (Caribbean, Central, Andean, Amazonia and Eastern).Materials and MethodsWe collected 15,333 samples from umbilical cord blood between the period of March 2009 to May 2010 in 19 different hospitals and maternal-child health services from seven different cities. We applied an IgM ELISA assay (Vircell, Spain) to determine the frequency of IgM anti Toxoplasma. The results in blood cord samples were confirmed either by western blot and repeated ELISA IgM assay. In a sub-sample of 1,613 children that were negative by the anti-Toxoplasma IgM assay, the frequency of specific anti-Toxoplasma IgA by the ISAGA assay was determined. All children with positive samples by IgM, IgA, clinical diagnosis or treatment during pregnancy were recalled for confirmatory tests after day 10 of life.Results61 positive samples for specific IgM (0.39%) and 9 positives for IgA (0.5%) were found. 143 questionnaires were positive for a clinical diagnosis or treatment for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. 109 out of the 218 children that had some of the criteria for postnatal confirmatory tests were followed. Congenital toxoplasmosis infection was confirmed in 15 children: 7 were symptomatic, and three of them died before the first month of life (20% of lethality). A significant correlation was found between a high incidence of markers for congenital toxoplasmosis and higher mean annual rainfall for the city.ConclusionsIncidence for congenital toxoplasmosis is significantly different between hospitals or maternal child health services from different cities in Colombia. Mean annual rainfall was correlated with incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Background Epidemiologic surveillance of COVID-19 is essential to collect and analyse data to improve public health decision making during the pandemic. There are few initiatives led by public-private alliances in Colombia and Latin America. The CoVIDA project contributed with RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in mild or asymptomatic populations in Bogotá. The present study aimed to determine the factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in working adults. Methods COVID-19 intensified sentinel epidemiological surveillance study, from April 18, 2020, to March 29, 2021. The study included people aged 18 years or older without a history of COVID-19. Two main occupational groups were included: healthcare and essential services workers with high mobility in the city. Social, demographic, and health-related factors were collected via phone survey. Afterwards, the molecular test was conducted to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection. Findings From the 58,638 participants included in the study, 3,310 (5·6%) had a positive result. A positive result was associated with the age group (18-29 years) compared with participants aged 60 or older, participants living with more than three cohabitants, living with a confirmed case, having no affiliation to the health system compared to those with social health security, reporting a very low socioeconomic status compared to those with higher socioeconomic status, and having essential occupations compared to healthcare workers. Interpretation The CoVIDA study showed the importance of intensified epidemiological surveillance to identify groups with increased risk of infection. These groups should be prioritised in the screening, contact tracing, and vaccination strategies to mitigate the pandemic.

The use of VIA-VILI simulating colposcopic procedures and provided by nurses represents a good alternative for implementing see-and-treat programs in Latin America. Program constraints should be taken into account.

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