The National Serological Survey (NSS) 2015-2016 is the 3rd survey to be conducted in Portugal and is the first that covers the entire national territory (mainland and islands). This study will contribute with the knowledge of the current immune status of the population to the diseases included in the Portuguese National Vaccination Programme (PNV), as well as other infectious diseases with great impact on public health.
The last National Serologic Survey was conducted in 2001-2002 in Portugal as a partnership between the Directorate-General of Health and the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA).
This study began in 2015 which is also the year of the 50th anniversary of the PNV. This programme was created in 1965 with the "Polio Campaign", which targeted children between 0 and 9 years old.
At the same time, independently, will also be carried a study to know the percentage of people suffering from other infectious diseases, such as HIV infection, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and Chlamydia infection, diseases that have not yet vaccines available. These transmissible diseases have treatment but may be undetected for years because they usually do not originate symptoms.
Coordinating Entity
The National Serological Survey (NSS) 2015 - 2016 is an initiative promoted by the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), through the Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Epidemiology, in partnership or collaboration with other entities.
Partners
For the execution of this study we also have the collaboration of other laboratories at national level, Hospitals and Health Services of the Autonomous Region of Azores and Madeira.