Health surveillance, biosafety and emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases in Brazil

Abstract

The present paper presents compulsory notifi cation data for infectious diseases and epidemiologic ones recorded at the Center for Strategic Information and Health Surveillance (CIEVS) for the period of March 2006 to April 2007. Data is presented in accordance with geographic distribution, time and risk classifi cation of the etiologic agents found, according to Ministry of Health regulations. The importance of this epidemiologic surveillance system is presented, debating the main topics required for quality improvement and information analysis. It is concluded, from the analysis of epidemiologic events and their relation to risk management, that the compulsory notifi cation system in Brazil is incomplete, irregular, delayed and, in a large percentage of cases, notifi cation cannot be completed and the agent may not be identifi ed. Quality of data varies from one region to another and from county to county within the same region. There is a high proportion of cases in which the etiologic agent is unknown and, in such cases, a high lethality is expected, establishing a high risk exposure condition for those health professionals involved in health surveillance. From these data, the study points out the need to improve the surveillance system and strengthens the idea of building maximum containment laboratories.

Biosafety in autopsy room: an systematic review

“…In Brazil, 72% of the etiological agents of notifiable diseases are RG2, 19% are RG3 and 9% are unknown agents (65). These data corroborate the results of this study, showing the importance of adopting uni-versal precautions during when handling all cadavers.…”

Estudio de la capacidad funcional, el equilibrio y la salud y sus interrelaciones con las caídas y la mortalidad en un población mayor ribereña del Amazonas = Functional capacity study, health and balance and it´s interelationships with accidental falls and mortality in an amazonian riverside population.

“…well as health problems associated with environmental contamination like exposure to mercury (Cardoso, Navarro, Costa Neto, & Moreira, 2010;Lodenius & Malm, 1999). However, this situation changed in past decades when the Family Health Program (FHP) was established, creating the Brazilian free public health care program.…”