Resumen

SANTOS, Elizabeth David dos  y  GARRETT, Denise Oliveira. Evaluation of the hantavirus surveillance system in Brazil. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2005, vol.14, n.1, pp.15-31. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742005000100003.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a serious complication of hantavirus infection, was first identified on the American continent in 1993, in the United States of América (USA). During the same year, HPS was also identified in Brazil, in the Municipality of Juquitiba, São Paulo State. An evaluation with the objectives of describe the system´s components, analyze its attributes and utility, and describe costs and resources of the Surveillance System for Hantavirus in Brazil (SVH) was conducted using the methodology defined in "Guidelines for Evaluation of of Surveillance Systems", Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, USA). The results demonstrated that the surveillance system is complex, relatively inflexible and unstable, and data quality, acceptability, sensitivity, predictive value positive and representativeness were low, requiring substantial resources to maintain the system. Nevertheless, the system was useful to detect cases of HPS, to identify outbreaks, to assist prevention and control measures, and to provide important information to guide clinical practice and surveillance. Based on these results the authors recommend that states and municipalities implement surveillance of hantavirus infection, strengthen health education of professionals, define notifying units and reference centers for clinical assistance and promote the use of surveillance data. Useful information also should be disseminated in a timely manner to health professionals, and to the population about better prevention strategies.

Palabras clave : surveillance system evaluation; hantavirus; hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

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