Integrated response to the dengue epidemic in the Southwest Region of Bahia (2023–2024): public health experience report
1
Sanitary surveillance directorate, Bahia state department of health, Brumado, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Between 2023 and 2024, Bahia faced one of the largest dengue epidemics in its history, with approximately 232,000 reported cases and 170 deaths. The Southwest Health macro-region accounted for 83% of the deaths, revealing structural weaknesses and the need for a rapid, coordinated, and continuous response to mitigate the sanitary and social impacts of the crisis.
METHODS:
This experience report describes the work of the Southwest Regional Health Center, an administrative unit of the Bahia State Health Department, in providing technical support to the 74 municipalities in the region. An integrative strategy was adopted involving Epidemiological Surveillance, Health Surveillance, Primary Care, and the Strategic Information Center for Health Surveillance. The actions included in-person and virtual training, production of educational materials, intersectoral meetings, and technical guidance on services provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System, including hospitals, laboratories, and Family Health Units. The Health Surveillance Agency performed systematic inspections of the services, while the data provided by the Support Room of the Health Department enabled continuous monitoring and timely redirection of interventions.
RESULTS:
Coordination between sectors favored the standardization of clinical protocols and improved case management, reducing inappropriate conduct. There was a strengthening of continuing education for professionals and an intensification of community mobilization, with an expansion of health education and environmental education activities in schools. In the post-epidemic period, there was a significant reduction in arbovirus cases, demonstrating the positive effect of integrated and territorialized actions.
CONCLUSIONS:
The experience reinforces that effective responses to sanitary emergencies require intersectoral integration, skilled data management, and continuous communication between teams. It is highlighted that there is an urgent need for policies that strengthen the social determinants of health and ensure sustainable surveillance practices, in line with the principles of equity, inclusion, and sustainability that guide truly borderless health
Between 2023 and 2024, Bahia faced one of the largest dengue epidemics in its history, with approximately 232,000 reported cases and 170 deaths. The Southwest Health macro-region accounted for 83% of the deaths, revealing structural weaknesses and the need for a rapid, coordinated, and continuous response to mitigate the sanitary and social impacts of the crisis.
METHODS:
This experience report describes the work of the Southwest Regional Health Center, an administrative unit of the Bahia State Health Department, in providing technical support to the 74 municipalities in the region. An integrative strategy was adopted involving Epidemiological Surveillance, Health Surveillance, Primary Care, and the Strategic Information Center for Health Surveillance. The actions included in-person and virtual training, production of educational materials, intersectoral meetings, and technical guidance on services provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System, including hospitals, laboratories, and Family Health Units. The Health Surveillance Agency performed systematic inspections of the services, while the data provided by the Support Room of the Health Department enabled continuous monitoring and timely redirection of interventions.
RESULTS:
Coordination between sectors favored the standardization of clinical protocols and improved case management, reducing inappropriate conduct. There was a strengthening of continuing education for professionals and an intensification of community mobilization, with an expansion of health education and environmental education activities in schools. In the post-epidemic period, there was a significant reduction in arbovirus cases, demonstrating the positive effect of integrated and territorialized actions.
CONCLUSIONS:
The experience reinforces that effective responses to sanitary emergencies require intersectoral integration, skilled data management, and continuous communication between teams. It is highlighted that there is an urgent need for policies that strengthen the social determinants of health and ensure sustainable surveillance practices, in line with the principles of equity, inclusion, and sustainability that guide truly borderless health
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
