[Good practices in epidemiological surveillance for the sustainability of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome elimination in El Salvador, 2019-2023Boas práticas de vigilância epidemiológica para a sustentabilidade da eliminação do sarampo, da rubéola e da síndrome da rubéola congênita em El Salvador, 2019-2023].

Abstract

Objective: Describe good practices in epidemiological surveillance implemented in El Salvador between 2019 and 2023 to sustain the elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome.

Methods: Special descriptive report on the implementation of good epidemiological and laboratory surveillance practices for measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome from 2019 to 2023.

Results: During the period 2019 to 2023, El Salvador reported no confirmed cases of measles, rubella, or congenital rubella syndrome. The national measles and rubella notification rate was 8.4 per 100 000 population in 2023; 9 in 2022; 5.6 in 2021; 2.9 in 2020; and 8.2 in 2019. Between the report of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country and the declaration of the end of the international health emergency by the World Health Organization on 5 May 2023, the rate of reported suspected cases of measles and rubella remained above the indicator.

Conclusions: The implementation of permanent and mandatory epidemiological surveillance strategies allowed the sustainability of measles and rubella elimination in El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic.