The Bolivian government issued a regulation for rabies control in November 2005, owing to increasing the prevalence of dog and human rabies cases in recent years. An assessment of rabies-vaccination coverage and other factors that might influence the success of the on-going vaccination campaign was needed. The objective of this study was to investigate dog rabies vaccination coverage and risk factors associated with dogs being unvaccinated against rabies, and profiles of the owned-dog population in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, where dog rabies was endemic. Mainly due to logistical reasons, the WHO's expanded programme on immunization cluster-survey method was used. The 390 households were included in the study. Information about dog population and management characteristics was obtained for 542 dogs from 301 households. On average, households had 1.4 dogs and 1.8 dogs per dog-owning household (median = 1). The human-to-dog ratio was 4.6 : 1. During the last 1 year prior to the study, of the 539 dogs aged >or=1 month, 463 (85%; 95% CI 79-91; design effect 3.6) were classified as vaccinated. Amongst the study dogs, dogs aged 1-11 months were the higher risk of dogs not being vaccinated (OR = 8.2; 95% CI 4.3-15.6; P < 0.01). Almost two-thirds of the study dogs were allowed to roam freely throughout the day or in part. Community education efforts should address the importance of dog ownership and movement restriction, and the need to vaccinate young dogs.

Based on occupational classification of AIDS cases reported in Brazil in 1995 and recorded in the Data Base for Reported Diseases (SINAN), Pessoal (268,1), Cientistas Sociais (176,1), Escritores e Jornalistas (114,3), Auxiliares da Medicina e Odontologia (113,4), Químicos, Farmacêuticos e Físicos (111,9), Professores (87,3), Artistas (74,7), Serviços Portuários (65,6), Transportes Marítimos e Fluviais (57,5), Vendedores (55,4

Based on the available data from the Hospital responsible for the care of paralitic poliomyelitis cases in Rio de Janeiro City (Guanabara State) and adjacent areas, and the laboratory studies carried out on these patients, the authors analize epidemiological aspects of poliomyelitis in a period of ten years (1961 to 1970). Paralitic poliomyelitis remains a public health problem, with a typical incidence in the less than 4 year age group. All three poliovirus types have been prevalent for at least one period of time during the last ten years. Trivalent oral vaccine has been used since 1961 but the vaccination levels achieved were not enough to a permanent control of the disease. A definite seasonal distribution of cases could not be observed with the available data. Active mass campaign vaccinations with previous motivation of all segments of the population, specially the low-income groups instead of passive waiting of children in Vaccination Centers seems to be the best aproach to control poliomyelitis in this area.
Os autores analisam os aspectos epidemiológicos da poliomielite no período de 10 anos (1961-1970), com base em dados epidemiológicos do Hospital Estadual Jesus do Estado da Guanabara, responsável pelo atendimento aos casos paralíticos de poliomielite da região do Rio de Janeiro e áreas adjacentes e em estudos laboratoriais destes casos. A poliomielite paralítica permanece nesta região, como um problema de Saúde Pública, com uma incidência típica em grupos etários menores de 4 anos. Todos os três tipos de vírus da poliomielite apresentaram-se prevalentes, ao menos por um período de tempo, nos 10 abrangidos por este estudo. A vacina oral trivalente tem sido utilizada desde 1961, mas o nível de vacinação alcançado não foi suficiente para um controle permanente da doença. Com os dados disponíveis, não pode ser observada uma definida distribuição sesonal dos casos de poliomielite. Uma campanha ampla e ativa de vacinação, com motivação prévia de todos os segmentos da população, especialmente os grupos etários de baixo nível sócio-econômico em lugar da imunização de rotina pelos Centros de Saúde, onde se espera as crianças, levadas pelos responsáveis, parece ser a melhor técnica para o controle da poliomielite nesta área

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