TY - JOUR AU - Pinell-McNamara, Veronica AU - Acosta, Anna AU - Pedreira, Maria Cristina AU - Carvalho, Ana AU - Pawloski, Lucia AU - Tondella, Maria Lucia AU - Briere, Elizabeth T1 - Expanding Pertussis Epidemiology in 6 Latin America Countries through the Latin American Pertussis Project T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2017 VL - 23 IS - 13 SN - 1080-6059 AB - The Latin American Pertussis Project (LAPP), established in 2009, is a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pan American Health Organization, Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the ministries of health of 6 countries in Latin America. The project goal is to expand understanding of pertussis epidemiology in Latin America to inform strategies for control and prevention. Here we describe LAPP structure and activities. After an initial surveillance evaluation, LAPP activities are tailored to individual country needs. LAPP activities align with Global Health Security Agenda priorities and have focused on expanding laboratory diagnostic capacity, implementing a laboratory quality control and quality assurance program, and providing epidemiologic support to strengthen reporting of pertussis surveillance data. Lessons learned include that ongoing mentoring is key to the successful adoption of new technologies and that sustainability of laboratory diagnostics requires a regional commitment to procure reagents and related supplies. KW - pertussis KW - whooping cough KW - respiratory infections KW - Bordetella pertussis KW - toxoid KW - Latin America KW - epidemiological monitoring KW - surveillance KW - monitoring KW - immunologic KW - sentinel surveillance KW - pertussis vaccines KW - diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines KW - PCR KW - serology KW - CDC KW - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention KW - Pan American Health Organization KW - PAHO KW - Sabin Vaccine Institute KW - global health security KW - Global Health Security Agenda KW - bacteria DO - 10.3201/eid2313.170457 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/23/13/17-0457_article ER - End of Reference