Implementation of a mass gathering surveillance system during a Mozambican cultural ceremony in 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Cultural festivals are events that bring together a large number of people in close contact for extended periods of time, which can contribute to disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Every year in Maputo province, on February 2, the capital of Mozambique celebrates the traditional ceremony Gwaza-Muthini (GM), where nearly 5000 people participate. An enhanced real-time surveillance system was implemented to monitor the occurrence of health events during the GM event. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between February 1-3, 2020. A direct observation of the event site, waste disposal, public toilets, hygiene, sanitation, and safety conditions of the food vendors was carried out prior to the event. To monitor health events, clinical patient data were
collected from the event’s medical post and the local health facility’s registration logbooks, using a real-time electronic mobile system. For the diagnosis evaluation, they were divided into traumatic and non-traumatic origin. Results: Forty patients were seen at the two health facilities; of whom, 73% (29) were male, 58% (23) presented with traumatic injuries, 43% (17) with non-traumatic diagnosis. Of injuries, 48% (11/23) were victims of physical aggression, 35% (8/23) of traffic accidents. Of the 17 patients with non-traumatic diagnosis, 47% (8/17) were hypertensive. No foodborne disease was observed during the event. Conclusion: Although this study was focused on monitoring health events that could lead to outbreak diseases, such as foodborne diseases the 2020 annual GM traditional ceremony occurred without significant health risk, and patients had no condition needing hospitalization.