On July 16, BIREME launched a new search strategy in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) focused on Oropouche fever. The initiative seeks to respond to the recent epidemiological alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and its updates. In the first half of 2024, and for the first time since 2010, PAHO published a series of six alerts and updates on the situation and the risk to communities. The Oropouche fever has affected communities in five countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, and Colombia, with more than 7,700 reported cases.
Systematic search provides visibility to information
In this context, the new VHL search strategy aims to provide critical information to support the response to the current situation. In July 2024, the VHL search yielded more than 1,300 sources of information on the subject, including 954 full texts, 39 documents from the LILACS database and seven from the PAHO-IRIS repository. It is also noteworthy that, in the last year alone, 103 full texts have been published, mostly in English, covering various research methods such as prognostic, risk factor, etiological and screening studies, among others.
Essential tools for science and public policy
The collection of search expressions in the VHL can also be applied to the development of thematic areas and other information resources, such as Evidence Maps and Knowledge Showcases, among others. The repository publishes the full description, including details of the bibliographic search expressions, which can be adapted to other sources of information such as PUBMED and EMBASE, allowing these searches to be shared and reused. The repository is constantly updated by the VHL Reference Network.
Information for Action in Health
It is part of BIREME’s technical cooperation to support countries, health professionals and decision-makers to use information and scientific evidence to respond adequately to the health needs of affected communities. The new search strategy for Oropouche fever is a significant step in this commitment, offering a solid knowledge base to face the current epidemiological challenges.
Check it out and explore: https://bvsalud.org/queries/search_strategy/oropouche-fever/?l=pt_BR.