Institut Pasteur International Network

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Institut Pasteur International Network Institut Pasteur International Network REPORT 2010 32 Instituts Pasteur worldwide AFRICA AMERICAS ASIA-PACIFIC EUROPE MARC JOUAN RIIP SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INSTITUT PASTEUR INTERNATIONAL NETWORK “In 2010, 32 Institutes signed the new Institut networks, in support of the International Health Regulations. Pasteur International Network partnership As national bodies for intervention, these institutes now agreement. This agreement confirms their commitment to constitute with their ability to mobilize expertise beyond borders international scientific cooperation, first and the fight against a single regional and international force of intervention, infectious diseases. Preoccupied with respect for ethical values ready to take action in areas where epidemics strike (Africa, and the commitment to the most vulnerable populations, the Asia, South America, etc.). Major efforts have been made network rallies in this fight different institutes very much involved recently to increase the network’s intervention abilities in public health research and monitoring and a new generation by creating high security BSL3 laboratories and new clinical contents of institutes boasting innovative research facilities. Grounded in research facilities, but also by strengthening new areas a close partnership with local health authorities, the network of expertise, particularly in entomology and epidemiology. relies integrated sustainable institutions, benefiting from statuses The network now constitutes a unique and original international scientific cooperation model that draws upon the development 01 RIIP adapted to their tasks: certain public institutions under the of local skills to guarantee the sustainability of its actions. supervision of Ministries of Health, such as the new Institut The ambitious international training program supported by all 02 EDITORIAL Pasteur in Laos, others benefiting from a private status under the institutes confirms this commitment. It is based on new local law like the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, which became a GLOBAL PRESENCE partnerships with universities and Ministries of health. It is one 04 private foundation under Senegalese law in 2010. Very keen to of the priority areas for the network’s development. This report meet the expectations of these countries and the international 06 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS describes some of the recent achievements of the International community in the prevention of infectious diseases, the network Network. It does not claim to be exhaustive but outlines faces new healthcare, demographic and environmental 10 PUBLIC HEALTH AND POPULATIONS the milestones and major achievements in the fields of public challenges in light of financial constraints and political health and research.” 16 RESEARCH ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES developments. In order to meet these challenges, the network has devised ambitious international programs in liaison with 38 INTERNATIONAL TEACHING AND TRAINING the different countries’ Ministries of health and the WHO: monitoring of bacterial meningitis in Africa, creation of a TECHNICAL PLATFORMS 44 network to monitor influenza in Africa and Asia, prevention of 50 THANKS AND PARTNERS respiratory and diarrhea-related infections, surveillance of resistance to anti-infectives, hepatitis, and neglected diseases such as Buruli ulcer, etc. The network’s WHO Collaborating Centers is currently key actor in the international monitoring 01 editorial ALICE DAUTRY FRANÇOISE BARRÉ-SINOUSSI JÉRÔME SALOMON PRESIDENT OF INSTITUT PASTEUR HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUT PASTEUR HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NETWORK DIVISION I hope that we will continue to move forward, together, The Institut Pasteur International For over 120 years the Institut Pasteur on the road to biomedical knowledge, communication and Network is unique in its global has accomplished its triple mission of collaboration, for the benefit of as many people as possible.” geographic presence but also in the public health, teaching and research, diversity of its activities, varying from defending its ethics and value of sharing and “This year we celebrate the 120th anniversary extraordinary wealth to the network and its partnerships. We fundamental research to diagnosis and drawing on a network of 32 institutions on the of the first Institut Pasteur overseas, located in Saigon. Many have formed close ties with major international partners, routine vaccination.” 5 continents.” other institutes followed in the same international spirit as demonstrated by the presence of senior representatives characterizing Institut Pasteur since it was founded in 1887. from the Wellcome Trust, NIH or the Riken at the network’s “More precisely, I have been pleased to “In the George Institute’s G-Finder study, the Institut Louis Pasteur’s desire was for progress in healthcare to be scientific meetings in Hong Kong in November 2010. note, over the years, a growing interest from RIIP members for Pasteur has pride of place, particularly in the prevention of Buruli ulcer. shared by all, as rapidly as possible, and to benefit those Aware that disease prevention requires mutual action, we thematic multicenter programs combining clinical research It is among the top 12 for malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiases and affected by the disease, in the field. Driven by a sense have developed the network’s scientific meetings, facilitated and more fundamental research. This involvement in clinical dengue. Globally, Institut Pasteur is ranked 11th and even 5th among of ethics and the respect for pasteurian values, each of the regional meetings and decided to create a network research enhances the ties with national health structures, self-financed institutions. The work accomplished is impressive but we institutions belonging to the Institut Pasteur International association. The main objective of this Pasteur International particularly hospitals, which are essential to the creation of must face new challenges. The increasing number of exchanges and Network works in the name of disease research and Network Association, will be to facilitate the development efficient networks integrating research and care in a the circulation of infectious agents and resistance mechanisms require monitoring, particularly in infectious diseases, public health, of scientific projects involving several members of the translational spirit of multidisciplinarity. Through these close ties, partnerships to be strengthened on a global level. The endemics or prevention, the fight against epidemics and pandemics, and international network and other partners. It is expected to the RIIP member institutes are able to contribute fully to the epidemics in the southern hemisphere can affect countries in the the training of technicians, engineers and doctoral students increase the available means, broaden the network institutes’ training of researchers and health workers. Furthermore, the high northern hemisphere. The examples of the chikungunya virus or in countries where these institutions are located and are project opportunities, and provide them with even greater quality technological facilities present there can facilitate dengue are very much relevant today. A multidisciplinary synergic perceived as benefaction centers, heirs to Alexandre Yersin international visibility, for everyone’s benefit. Finally, I want to international partnerships with the public and private sectors. approach is now essential with a number of field partners. Current and Charles Nicolle. This said, the institutes’ work benefits the thank the staff of institutes from the international network who National data collected unearths scientific evidence meeting developments are putting the competitivity of our research system to entire world’s population. Diseases are unhindered by borders, have worked this year in local conditions may be extremely the expectations of health authorities and helping them to the test, and its ability to contribute to major international projects. hence it is essential that disease research and monitoring difficult and painful, as in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia.” make decisions adapted to national context. Very much rooted In order to develop innovative diagnostic tools and new therapeutic are too. In this respect, the Institut Pasteur International Network in the local reality, these RIIP institutes are a veritable means methods, the boundaries of research must be broken. We have to step is a unique collaboration tool that is particularly useful and of improvement in public health in the countries where they are up certain lines of research and enhance communication. Scientific effective for monitoring and raising the alert in the event present; their reason for existing.” priorities must take into account public health problems, niches of of an emerging disease as was the case with the potential expertise and the benefits of a multidisciplinary synergic network. influenza pandemic. I would like to salute the friendship New funding mechanisms are emerging, requiring monitoring and the binding the different institutes and their members, which adds use of experts in financing and specific administrators. The international network is a major contributor to infectious disease research. It is expanding, and shares its pasteurian values and ethics. It thrives on the wonderful breeding ground of ideas and skills of the Pasteur scientists in infectious disease research. It is unable and unwilling to work alone and is ready to welcome teams from Europe, the US or elsewhere while
Recommended publications
  • And Missions
    Shared values The International and missions Network AFRICA ASIA - PACIFIC The Institut Pasteur International Network brings together 32 ins- Pasteur Center in Cameroon Institut Pasteur du Cambodge titutions, united by their Pasteurian values and missions, for the Institut Pasteur de Bangui Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, benefit of populations’ health. A unique model of cooperation Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire Chinese Academy of Sciences Institut Pasteur de Guinée Institut Pasteur Korea in the field of health, this network connects men and women on Institut Pasteur de Madagascar Institut Pasteur du Laos every continent, who contribute daily to gain ground in the fight CERMES Niger Hong Kong University - against infectious agents, through biomedical research, public Institut Pasteur de Dakar Pasteur Research Pole health activities, and training. The conjunction of these three mis- Institut Pasteur sions relies on a network of expert scientists and cutting-edge AMERICAS de Nouvelle-Calédonie technologies in order to address health issues on both the local INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier National Institute of and the international level. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Hygiene and Epidemiology Institut Pasteur Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe in Ho Chi Minh City Institut Pasteur in Nha Trang Institut Pasteur de la Guyane ; Shutterstock. Institut Pasteur de Montevideo MAGHREB – MIDDLE EAST EUROPE Institut Pasteur d’Algérie Institut Pasteur in Iran Sciensano (Brussels) Institut Pasteur du Maroc Stephan Angeloff ; © Institut Pasteur Institute of
    [Show full text]
  • New Test Can Diagnose 416 Viruses from Tropical Regions 1 December 2016
    New test can diagnose 416 viruses from tropical regions 1 December 2016 Researchers from the University of São Paulo region and is transmitted mainly by midges of the (USP) at Ribeirão Preto in Brazil have developed a species Culicoides paraensis. platform that analyzes clinical samples from patients to diagnose infection by 416 viruses found "There are several other viruses that haven't yet in the world's tropical regions. caused problems in humans but may do so one day," Aquino said. "They're evolving all the time, According to its creators, the tool can be used by and with the degradation of natural environments reference laboratories such as Adolfo Lutz infectious agents once confined to natural niches Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and could spread farther afield." Evandro Chagas Institute in Brazil to assist epidemiological surveillance by detecting Although the platform is designed above all to pathogens with the potential to cause epidemics in detect pathogens transmitted by arthropods such humans. as mosquitoes and ticks, it can also diagnose infectious agents transmitted by small mammals, Results of the research project, which was like hantavirus. coordinated by Victor Hugo Aquino, a professor at the University of São Paulo's Ribeirão Preto Aquino explained that the selection encompasses Pharmaceutical School (FCFRP-USP), and all viruses occurring in tropical regions with DNA supported by FAPESP, have been published in sequences deposited in GenBank, a public PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. database maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which is part of "The number of patients with suspected dengue, the United States National Library of Medicine Zika or chikungunya infection will increase when (NLM).
    [Show full text]
  • Rich Fraction from Arrabidaea Chica Verlot (Bignoniaceae)
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 20 July 2021 doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.703985 Antileishmanial Activity of Flavones- Rich Fraction From Arrabidaea chica Verlot (Bignoniaceae) João Victor Silva-Silva 1†, Carla Junqueira Moragas-Tellis 2†, Maria do Socorro dos Santos Chagas 2, Paulo Victor Ramos de Souza 2,3, Celeste da Silva Freitas de Souza 1, Daiana de Jesus Hardoim 1, Noemi Nosomi Taniwaki 4, Davyson de Lima Moreira 2, Maria Dutra Behrens 2†, Kátia da Silva Calabrese 1*† and Fernando Almeida-Souza 1,5† 1Laboratory of Immunomodulation and Protozoology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2Laboratory of Natural Products for Public Health, Pharmaceutical Techonology Institute – Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3Student on Postgraduate Program in Translational Research in Drugs and Medicines, Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 4Electron Microscopy Nucleus, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Edited by: Paulo, Brazil, 5Postgraduate in Animal Science, State University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil Pinarosa Avato, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy Reviewed by: Acknowledging the need of identifying new compounds for the treatment of leishmaniasis, Edson Roberto Silva, this study aimed to evaluate, from in vitro trials, the activity of flavones from Arrabidaea University of São Paulo, Brazil chica against L. amazonensis. The chromatographic profiles of the hydroethanolic extract Miriam Rolon, Centro para el Desarrollo de la and a flavone-rich fraction (ACFF) from A. chica were determined by high-performance Investigacion Cientifica, Paraguay liquid chromatography coupled with a diode-array UV-Vis detector (HPLC-DAD-UV) and *Correspondence: electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in tandem (LC-ESI-MS-MS).
    [Show full text]
  • Priority, Invisibility and Eradication: the History of Smallpox and the Brazilian Public Health Agenda
    Medical History, 2009, 53: 229–252 Priority, Invisibility and Eradication: The History of Smallpox and the Brazilian Public Health Agenda GILBERTO HOCHMAN* Introduction This article describes three periods in Brazil’s modern history when governmental action was (or was not) taken against smallpox: first, when smallpox control became a priority in the Brazilian sanitary agenda from the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century; second, when it was rendered politically invisible during decades when greater attention was given to yellow fever and malaria control; third, when it reappeared at the cen- tre of Brazilian health policy in the 1960s until its eventual eradication in 1973. Smallpox control in the latter two periods is suffused with paradox. For example, evidence suggests that the nearly fifty-year absence or lack of policies and agencies to deal with smallpox actually favoured the mobilization of local, national and international resources once the era- dication programme was launched in 1966; these new approaches were accelerated from 1969 until the completion of eradication in 1973. Equally paradoxical, it was during the spe- cific context of the military regime after 1964 that the Brazilian health system developed the capacity to mobilize existing but dispersed resources and flexibly to innovate, incorporate, and adapt new policies. Another important element in this period was institutional learning based on other vertical programmes such as the malaria eradication campaign. Although the Brazilian smallpox eradication programme was constrained by international agencies and by bilateral co-operation with the United States, the period after 1964 offered opportunities for the realization of a new and wide-ranging national health capacity including the creation of a national system of epidemiological surveillance and a national childhood immunization programme.
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19 Pandemic in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: a Social Inequality Report
    medicina Communication COVID-19 Pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A Social Inequality Report Yago Bernardo 1,2 , Denes do Rosario 1,3 and Carlos Conte-Junior 1,2,3,4,* 1 COVID Research Group, Center for Food Analysis (NAL), Technological Development Support Laboratory (LADETEC), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, RJ, Brazil; [email protected] (Y.B.); [email protected] (D.d.R.) 2 Graduate Program in Veterinary Hygiene (PPGHV), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Vital Brazil Filho, Niterói 24230-340, RJ, Brazil 3 Graduate Program in Food Science (PPGCAL), Institute of Chemistry (IQ), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil 4 Graduate Program in Sanitary Surveillance, National Institute of Health Quality Control (INCQS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +55-21-3938-7825 Abstract: Background and Objectives: To perform a retrospective report on the lethality of COVID-19 in different realities in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Materials and Methods: We accomplished an observational study by collecting the data about total confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in the top 10 high social developed neighborhoods and top 10 most populous favelas in RJ to determine the case-fatality rate (CFR) and compare these two different realities. Results: CFR was significatively higher in poverty areas of RJ, reaching a mean of 9.08% in the most populous favelas and a mean of 4.87% in the socially developed neighborhoods. Conclusions: The social mitigation measures adopted in RJ have benefited only smaller portions of the population, excluding needy communities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS)
    Center for Technological Development in Health Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health of Brazil The Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS) Presentation to the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Rio de Janeiro, 02 February 2005 CDTS/FIOCRUZ œ Presentation to CIPIH, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2 February 2005 The Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS) Carlos M. Morel Scientific Coordinator CDTS/FIOCRUZ CDTS/FIOCRUZ œ Presentation to CIPIH, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2 February 2005 Purpose of thispresentation To discuss the role and needs of disease-endemic countries in research, development and innovation To position Brazil and FIOCRUZ in the international context To present the CDTS project to members of CIPIH Background to this presentation Health is not only a consequence of development A central input into poverty reduction and long-term economic growth and social development The new production of knowledge Gibbons et al, 1994: Mode 1 and Mode 2 Pasteur‘s Quadrant, 1997: —Use-inspired basic research“ Innovative Developing Countries (IDCs) More active role in health product innovation, research & development, manufacturing and access FIOCRUZ Prominent role in Brazil‘s S&T and public health policies Health and developing countries Health challenges and failures Innovation in developing countries CDTS/FIOCRUZ œ Presentation to CIPIH, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2 February 2005 Health challenges for developing countries Provide access to existing health interventions (vaccines, drugs, etc) Cope with a —market failure“ and a —public health failure“ Deal with diseases that lack cost-effective tools for their control Diseases of poverty ”Neglected‘ and ”most-neglected‘ diseases Cope with a —science failure“ e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Acceptability of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir (CAB LA) in HIV
    AIDS and Behavior https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02808-2 ORIGINAL PAPER Acceptability of Long‑Acting Injectable Cabotegravir (CAB LA) in HIV‑Uninfected Individuals: HPTN 077 Elizabeth E. Tolley1 · Sahar Z. Zangeneh2 · Gordon Chau2 · Joe Eron3 · Beatriz Grinsztejn4 · Hilton Humphries5 · Albert Liu6 · Marc Siegel7 · Maseko Bertha8 · Ravindre Panchia9 · Sue Li2 · Leslie Cottle2 · Alex Rinehart10 · David Margolis10 · Andrea Jennings11 · Marybeth McCauley12 · Raphael J. Landovitz13 © The Author(s) 2020 Abstract Long-acting injectable PrEP could ofer an alternative to daily oral PrEP, improve adherence and protection, if found acceptable, safe and efective. HPTN 077 evaluated injectable cabotegravir safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics among HIV-uninfected males and females in sequentially-enrolled cohorts of two dosing strategies. We compared acceptability of product attributes, prevention preferences and future interest in injectable PrEP (FIIP) by region, sex-at-birth, arm and cohort and used multivariable analysis to identify FIIP determinants. Baseline injectable PrEP preferences were higher in non-U.S. sites and increased in both regions over time. In multivariable models, FIIP was most strongly associated with acceptability of product attributes, was higher in non-U.S. sites and more altruistic participants. Treatment arm and report of pain were not associated with FIIP. Injectable acceptability was highest in non-U.S. sites. Preferences for injectable versus other PrEP methods were higher among U.S. males than females, but higher
    [Show full text]
  • Annex 1 Recommendationsa for the Production and Quality Control of Smallpox Vaccine, Revised 2003
    © World Health Organization WHO Technical Report Series, No. 926, 2004 Annex 1 Recommendationsa for the production and quality control of smallpox vaccine, revised 2003 Recommendations published by WHO are intended to be scientific and advisory. Each of the following sections constitutes guidance for national regulatory authorities and for the manufacturers of biological products. If a national regulatory authority so desires, these Recommendations may be adopted as definitive national requirements, or modifications may be justified and made by a national regulatory authority. It is recommended that modifications to these Recommendations be made only on condition that the modifications ensure that the vaccine is at least as safe and efficacious as that prepared in accordance with the Rec- ommendations set out below. The parts of each section printed in small type are comments for additional guidance intended for manufacturers and national regulatory authori- ties, which may benefit from those details. In these Recommendations, Part A describes the general provisions for the production and quality control of small- pox vaccine and is applicable to production of vaccine in all permissible substrates, including the use of a cell bank. Part B describes national control requirements. The terms “national regulatory authority” and “national control labo- ratory”, as used in these Recommendations, always refer to the country in which the vaccine is manufactured. a Previously called Requirements for Smallpox vaccine. 27 Introduction 28 General considerations 29 Part A. Manufacturing recommendations 32 A.1 Definitions 32 A.2 General manufacturing recommendations 34 A.3 Production control 35 A.3.1 Control of source materials 35 A.3.2 Control of vaccine production 42 A.3.3 Control of bulk suspensions 51 A.3.4 Final bulk 53 A.4 Filling and containers 56 A.5 Control tests on final product 56 A.6 Records 58 A.7 Samples 58 A.8 Labelling 58 A.9 Distribution and shipping 59 A.10 Storage and expiry data 59 Part B.
    [Show full text]
  • Brazil Pdf Icon[858 KB, 3 Pages]
    Brazil • Capital: Brasilia • Infant Mortality Rate: Total: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live • Area: 8,514,877 sq km births; male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births; female: 16.93 • Population: 205,716,890 (July 2012 est.) deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) • Age Structure: 0-14 years: 26.2% (male 27,219,651/female • Literacy Rate: Total population: 88.6%; male: 88.4%; 26,180,040); 15-64 years: 67% (male 67,524,642/female female: 88.8% (2004 est.) 68,809,357); 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 5,796,433/ • GDP: $2.282 trillion (2011 est.) female 7,899,650) (2011 est.) • GDP per Capita: $11,600 (2011 est.) • Life Expectancy at Birth: Total population: 72.79 years; male: 68.24 years; female: 76.53 years (2012 est.) U.S. CDC Direct Country Support Brazil launched its national influenza surveillance system in 2000. After the pandemic, there was a need to adapt the strategy of influenza surveillance in Brazil and obtain a better understanding of the clinical, epidemiological and etiological cases of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) since a variety of agents, beyond influenza are responsible for most of these cases and occurrence may occur in clusters of cases that deserve specific and timely interventions. Given the need to structure influenza surveillance in Brazil to improve prevention and control activities and identify unusual or new human influenza subtypes, the Ministry of Health (MOH) issued ordinance Official n. 2,693 in 2011. This promotes the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance for influenza in 72 priority municipalities.
    [Show full text]
  • ACHR29 93 6.Pdf (1.199Mb)
    ACHR 29/93.6 Original: English Revt REGIONAL SYSTEM OF VACCINES FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (SIREVA) i ,> Division of Health and Development k- f Program of Research and Technological Development in Health July 1993 The issue of this document does not constitute formal publication. It should not be reviewed, abstracted or quoted without the agreement of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Authors alone are responsible for views expressed in signed articles. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ........................................ 1 II. ACTIVITIES FOR EXPANSION OF SIREVA A. TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT .................. 2 B. DISSEMINATION OF THE SIREVA PROPOSAL .............. 3 C. FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF SIREVA ........................ 3 D. POLITICAL SUPPORT OF SIREVA ................. 3....... á HIII. DEVELOPMENT OF MASTER PLAN ....................... 4 A. MATER PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF S. PNEUMONIAE VACCINE ............................... 5 - Proposed research activity ............................ 6 - Implementation of master plan ........................ 8 B. MASTER PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TYPHOID FEVER VACCINE ..................................... 8 J - Research proposal for improved vaccine .................. 9 - Implementation of master plan: Joint development -- Mexico and Brazil ................................... 10 C. MASTER PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED N. MENINGIDITIS, SEROGROUP B VACCINE ........................................... 11 - Proposed research activity ............................ 13 - Design
    [Show full text]
  • How the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Is Working to Address the Pandemic in Brazil
    Brazilian Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2020, Volume 7, Issue 29, pp 84-90 FEATURE COVID-19: How the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation is Working to Address the Pandemic in Brazil The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has presented itself as one of the greatest health challenges on a global scale at the beginning of this century. Insufficient scientific knowledge about the new coronavirus, its high speed of dissemination and the capacity to cause deaths in vulnerable populations has generated uncertainties about what would be the best strategies to use to face the pandemic in different parts of the world. In Brazil, the challenges are even greater, as little is known about the transmission characteristics of the new coronavirus in the context of great social inequality, with populations living in precarious housing and sanitation conditions, without systematic access to water and in a situation of overcrowding. According to the National Council of Health Secretaries (Conass), from the beginning of the pandemic in March until October 8 2020, Brazil recorded 148,957 deaths from COVID-19, and 5,028,444 infected individuals. Given this scenario, institutions such as the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) are extremely important in the fight against COVID-19 in Brazil. One of the initiatives of this institution was the creation of the ‘Observatory COVID-19 Fiocruz’ whose general objective is the development of integrated analyses, technologies, proposals and solutions to face the pandemic by COVID-19 by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and by Brazilian society. The observatory is structured in a collaborative way, allowing the initiatives and work already developed in the different laboratories, research groups and sectors of Fiocruz to develop their activities in an agile way, with internal and external cooperation networks for the production and dissemination of materials to face the pandemic.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prep Recommendation: the Inscribed Disease in a Healthy Body
    THEMES AND DEBATES The PrEP recommendation: the inscribed disease in a healthy body Simone Wolfgang, PhD; Denise Portinari PhD In July 2014, the World Health Organization This measure also exposes a delicate aspect of (WHO) recommended that all gay men join the the social conduction of the HIV/Aids epidemics: “pre exposal medication Truvada” as a valid the stigmatization related to the gay community as resource to prevent HIV. The PrEP, prophylaxis the ultimate risk group. Affirming that every consists in taking a combination of antiretroviral homosexual should take the PrEP pill, may have medication once a day, in order to prevent HIV the effect of perpetuating the idea that gay men are infection. The WHO promotion of a policy that the main vector of this disease. Among the recommends all HIV negative gay men to join the misconceptions that this may involve are the PrEP, may be seen, in the context of contemporary perpetuation of prejudice related to Aids and gay biopolitical techniques and strategies, as a form of men, leading heterosexual populations to believe control and medicalization of homosexual bodies that they are not connected in the epidemic chain. and practices. It´s important to explicit the life- Keywords: HIV/Aids, Pre exposure prophylaxis, related effects linked to a measure like the PrEP homosexuality, biocontrol, male body, biopower program, considering this as a paradigm shift in HIV/Aids strategies. The shift involves the gradual 1- Introduction substitution of the “condom use” The main goal of this article is to explore the recommendations for the use of permanent possibilities and consequences of the PrEP1 prophylactic medications, and may be understood recommendation, (pre-exposure prophylaxis for as a move away from the abstinence paradigm – HIV) through the analysis of media discourse, sexual behavior control – to a more contemporary literature and scientific articles related to this form of individual medicalized body biocontrol, subject, that have been published in the last couple as outlined by Foucault in his later texts.
    [Show full text]