Varicella in a population deprived of liberty

Abstract

Introduction: Infection with the varicella zoster virus is worldwide. The incidence by age groups varies according to geographic location. In Colombia the transmissibility of the virus is favored by the multiplicity of climates,
geographical and atmospheric aspects of the country. In 2016, 112,400 cases were reported, 34,037 in the adult population, 744 were the population deprived of liberty (PDL). The definition of an outbreak in prisons is based on a case; Conditions such as overcrowding and the social context make it interesting to know the outbreak study and the implementation measures carried out.
Objective: To describe the risk factors, demographic
characteristics and evaluate varicella control measures in the Center for Prisons and Moderate Security Prisons (EPMSC) of Cali from 2017 to 2018
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational
study was carried out between 2017 and 2018 in PPL,
through records, interviews and notification files, variables of time, place and person were analyzed, frequency distributions were made, measures of central tendency were calculated, attack rates and proportions per pavilions.
Results: 146 cases were registered, it was an outbreak from a spread source. The overall attack rate of the outbreak in 2017 was 2.2% and in 2018 it was 0.4%. The pavilions with the highest attack rate in 2017 were 5 (4.9%) and in 2018 1A (2.5%). Overcrowding in 2017 was 264% and in 2018, 192%.
Conclusions: Overcrowding and health conditions in
prisons make it difficult to control epidemics in a timely manner.