Chickenpox outbreak among Venezuelan immigrants housed in shelters and occupations in the state of Roraima, Brazil, 2019: a descriptive study

Abstract

Objective: To describe the chickenpox outbreak among Venezuelan immigrants in shelters and occupations in the municipalities of Pacaraima and Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, and the control measures implemented. Methods: Descriptive case series study, that happened between november 21 and december 13, 2019, using secondary database from the investigation of the outbreak, made available by the General Coordination of the National Immunization Program. Descriptive analysis was performed, using simple and relative frequency measures, and calculating measures of central tendency and dispersion. Results: Of the 9,591 immigrants, 38 active cases and 1,500 susceptible to chickenpox were detected. Among the active cases, 23 were female and the most affected age group those under 9 years old (17 cases). Conclusion: The identification of susceptible people in the investigation led to the adoption of immunization actions that controlled the transmission, preventing serious cases, deaths, and the overload of the local health care network.