Data science is transforming epidemiological surveillance in Brazil, highlights E-Vigilância Congress
In its fourth edition, the E-Vigilância Congress brought together around 300 researchers, public managers and health professionals from Brazil and Latin America at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, in Rio de Janeiro, from 25 to 27 November. The event is considered a national reference in topics related to data science and epidemiological surveillance and, this year, received support and organisation from the team of The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean (TGHN LAC) and other partners.
"Data science in epidemiological surveillance: for what and for whom?"
With this question, E-Vigilância 2025 invited participants to reflect on the role of data science in the face of the challenges of preparedness and response in a context of increasingly unpredictable climatic, environmental and social changes.
The programme featured nine thematic panels and two poster sessions over the three days of activities. Discussions addressed early warning systems, integration of databases, environmental surveillance, artificial intelligence, training in data science, use of online data and municipal experiences applied in different Brazilian territories. Topics related to climate and health, risk-analysis methodologies and ethical aspects of AI were also explored during the congress.
Evolution of digital surveillance in Brazil
The Scientific Coordinator of E-vigilância and researcher at the Fiocruz Scientific Computing Programme, Claudia Codeço, celebrated the diversity of the audience and the maturity achieved. “It was extremely rewarding to see researchers, state and municipal managers, and students from different backgrounds discussing the use of data science for surveillance. We saw several presentations of real-world applications, showing how much the field has advanced,” she said.
Codeço highlighted the national reach of the congress: “Participants came from everywhere, from the North to the South of the country. The international lecture by Rachel Lowe brought the global scenario into our discussion, reflecting on the impacts of climate change on the future of health.”
Latin American integration at E-Vigilância
The Co-Principal Investigator of The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean (TGHN LAC) at Fiocruz, Antonio Pacheco, emphasised the growing maturity of the debate. “This is a highly relevant event for our field, especially because it places data science at the core of epidemiological surveillance. The involvement of TGHN LAC strengthens opportunities for collaboration and networking among researchers and students,” he said.
Principal Investigator of TGHN LAC in Colombia, the researcher from Universidad del Valle, Lyda Osorio, was one of the international speakers at the congress. In her presentation, she addressed pedagogical challenges in the use of control charts. “It is essential to understand that a control chart is not just a graph, but the result of a rigorous analytical process. Training should encourage professionals’ autonomy in decision-making and in risk communication,” she stated.
Sharing resources as a scientific strategy
The Data Coordinator of TGHN LAC, Larissa Pruner, also participated as a speaker and reinforced the importance of making resources available to other researchers. “We often think that a piece of code or a tutorial is too simple, but these materials are essential so that other professionals do not have to start from scratch,” she said.
Pruner presented results from a study conducted with centres in Africa, Asia and Latin America on the essential skills required for the practice of data science in health. The survey identified core competencies needed throughout the research lifecycle, from planning to communicating results. Recommendations include developing adaptable curricula and strengthening regional training hubs.
In its fourth edition, E-Vigilância reaffirms Brazil’s role in the agenda of health surveillance and data science by consolidating technical and scientific collaboration in Latin America and the Caribbean. The debate on real-world problems and solutions strengthens both science and evidence-informed policymaking, bringing together knowledge to address challenges at the intersection of health, environment and social issues.