Logo do repositório

Percorrer por autor "Pelerito, Ana"

A mostrar 1 - 3 de 3
  • Mpox surveillance and laboratory response in Portugal : lessons learned from three outbreak waves (2022–2025)
    Publication . Cordeiro, Rita; Francisco, Rafaela; Pelerito, Ana; Carvalho, Isabel Lopes de; Núncio, Maria Sofia
    Background/Objectives: Mpox re-emerged in 2022 as a global health concern. Between 2022 and 2025, Portugal experienced three distinct outbreak waves, highlighting the critical role of laboratory surveillance and public health interventions. This study describes the epidemiological trends, diagnostic performance, and key lessons learned to improve outbreak preparedness. Methods: A total of 5610 clinical samples from 2802 suspected cases were analyzed at the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge using real-time PCR methods. Positivity rates and viral loads (Ct values) were assessed across different clinical specimen types, including lesion, anal, oropharyngeal swabs, and urine samples. Results: Mpox was confirmed in 1202 patients. The first outbreak accounted for 79.3% of cases (n = 953), followed by a significant reduction in transmission during subsequent waves. Lesion and rectal swabs provided the highest diagnostic sensitivity (95.1% and 87.9%, respectively). Oropharyngeal swabs contributed to diagnosis in cases without visible lesions, while urine samples showed limited utility. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of sustained laboratory surveillance and adaptive public health strategies in controlling mpox outbreaks. Optimizing specimen collection enhances diagnostic accuracy, supporting early detection. Continuous monitoring, combined with targeted vaccination and effective risk communication, is essential to prevent resurgence and ensure rapid response in non-endemic regions.
    2025-08Contributo em revista Acesso aberto Ver mais
  • Viral genetic clustering and transmission dynamics of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Portugal
    Publication . Borges, Vítor; Duque, Mariana Perez; Martins, João Vieira; Vasconcelos, Paula; Ferreira, Rita; Sobral, Daniel; Pelerito, Ana; de Carvalho, Isabel Lopes; Núncio, Maria Sofia; Borrego, Maria José; Roemer, Cornelius; Neher, Richard A.; O’Driscoll, Megan; Rocha, Raquel; Lopo, Sílvia; Neves, Raquel; Palminha, Paula; Coelho, Luís; Nunes, Alexandra; Isidro, Joana; Pinto, Miguel; Santos, João Dourado; Mixão, Verónica; Santos, Daniela; Duarte, Silvia; Vieira, Luís; Martins, Fátima; Machado, Jorge; Veríssimo, Vítor Cabral; Grau, Berta; Peralta-Santos, André; Neves, José; Caldeira, Margarida; Pestana, Mafalda; Fernandes, Cândida; Caria, João; Pinto, Raquel; Póvoas, Diana; Maltez, Fernando; Sá, Ana Isabel; Salvador, Mafalda Brito; Teófilo, Eugénio; Rocha, Miguel; Moneti, Virginia; Duque, Luis Miguel; e Silva, Francisco Ferreira; Baptista, Teresa; Vasconcelos, Joana; Casanova, Sara; Mansinho, Kamal; Alves, João Vaz; Alves, João; Silva, António; Alpalhão, Miguel; Brazão, Cláudia; Sousa, Diogo; Filipe, Paulo; Pacheco, Patrícia; Peruzzu, Francesca; de Jesus, Rita Patrocínio; Ferreira, Luís; Mendez, Josefina; Jordão, Sofia; Duarte, Frederico; Gonçalves, Maria João; Pena, Eduarda; Silva, Claúdio Nunes; Guimarães, André Rodrigues; Tavares, Margarida; Freitas, Graça; Cordeiro, Rita; Gomes, João Paulo
    Pathogen genome sequencing during epidemics enhances our ability to identify and understand suspected clusters and investigate their relationships. Here, we combine genomic and epidemiological data of the 2022 mpox outbreak to better understand early viral spread, diversification and transmission dynamics. By sequencing 52% of the confirmed cases in Portugal, we identified the mpox virus sublineages with the highest impact on case numbers and fitted them into a global context, finding evidence that several international sublineages probably emerged or spread early in Portugal. We estimated a 62% infection reporting rate and that 1.3% of the population of men who have sex with men in Portugal were infected. We infer the critical role played by sexual networks and superspreader gatherings, such as sauna attendance, in the dissemination of mpox virus. Overall, our findings highlight genomic epidemiology as a tool for the real-time monitoring and control of mpox epidemics, and can guide future vaccine policy in a highly susceptible population.
    2023-09-11Artigo científico Acesso aberto Ver mais
  • Viral genetics and transmission dynamics in the second wave of mpox outbreak in Portugal and forecasting public health scenarios
    Publication . Cordeiro, Rita; Caetano, Constantino P.; Sobral, Daniel; Ferreira, Rita; Coelho, Luís; Pelerito, Ana; de Carvalho, Isabel Lopes; Namorado, Sónia; Loyens, Dinis B.; Mexia, Ricardo; Fernandes, Cândida; Neves, José Miguel; João, Ana Luísa; Rocha, Miguel; Duque, Luís Miguel; Correia, Inês; Baptista, Teresa; Brazão, Cláudia; Sousa, Diogo; Filipe, Paulo; Alpalhão, Miguel; Maltez, Fernando; Póvoas, Diana; Pinto, Raquel; Caria, João; Patrocínio de Jesus, Rita; Pacheco, Patrícia; Peruzzu, Francesca; Méndez, Josefina; Ferreira, Luís; Mansinho, Kamal; Alves, João Vaz; Vasconcelos, Joana; Domingos, João; Casanova, Sara; Duarte, Frederico; Gonçalves, Maria João; Salvador, Mafalda Brito; Guimarães, Mafalda Andresen; Martins, Sueila; Oliveira, Marvin Silva; Santos, Daniela; Vieira, Luís; Núncio, Maria Sofia; Borges, Vítor; Gomes, João Paulo
    2024Artigo científico Acesso aberto Ver mais