Resumo Passado um ano da “chegada” do novo coronavírus no Brasil, apesar dos números de infecção não apresentarem declínio, iniciou-se um processo de retomada das atividades e adaptação ao “novo normal”. É o objetivo deste artigo mostrar como uma epidemia é construída enquanto uma emergência sanitária, quais os marcadores de sua temporalidade e, principalmente, como ela se produz em um processo de obliteração e externalização de fatores que muitas vezes são inerentes aos seus efeitos. Para tanto, recuperamos a trajetória de duas experiências “epidêmicas” anteriores, vivenciadas em território brasileiro, a fome e o Zika vírus. Mostraremos, a partir dessa comparação, que a epidemia de Covid-19 deve ser entendida levando em consideração que sua trajetória é produzida conjuntamente com outras experiências de saúde e doença. Se os significados do “novo normal” estão sendo disputados, é importante trazer à luz os processos que reproduzem cotidianamente o “normal de novo”.

Abstract One year after the ‘arrival’ of the new coronavirus in Brazil, although the infection numbers did not show any decline, a process of resumption of activities and adaptation to the ‘new-normal’ has started. Thus, the main goal of this article is to show how an epidemic is built as a health emergency, what are the markers of its temporality and mainly, how it is produced in a process of obliteration and externalization of factors that are often inherent to its effects. In order to do so, we recalled the trajectory of two previous ‘epidemic’ experiences, lived in Brazilian territory, hunger and the Zika virus. We aim to show, through this comparison, that the COVID-19 epidemic needs to be understood taking into consideration that its trajectory is produced in conjunction with other health and disease experiences. If the meanings of the ‘new normal’ are being questioned, it is important to bring to light the processes reproduce daily the ‘normal anew’.

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to understand actions taken towards smallpox eradication in Brazil, in the framework of the Smallpox Eradication campaign that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The article argues that, in addition to the bifurcated needle and the lyophilized vaccine, epidemiological surveillance - based on the construction of instruments and protocols for health surveillance - was the third key element that guaranteed the eradication of the disease. The hypothesis is that the actions taken towards the control and eradication of smallpox contributed to the construction of new health institutions within Brazil. As an exercise of socio-historical analysis, this research was based on documentary sources (reports, newsletters and legislation), interviews with professionals directly involved in the eradication of smallpox, and part of the intellectual production on the subject.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este artículo es comprender las acciones para combatir la viruela en Brasil, en el marco de la Campaña de Erradicación de la Viruela, que tuvo lugar en las décadas de 1960 y 1970. Se intenta argumentar que, además de la aguja bifurcada y de la vacuna liofilizada, la vigilancia epidemiológica -a partir de la construcción de instrumentos y protocolos de vigilancia en salud- fue el tercer elemento clave que garantizó la erradicación de la enfermedad. La hipótesis que se pretende sustentar es que las acciones de control y erradicación de la viruela contribuyeron a la construcción de nuevas instituciones de salud en el interior de Brasil. Como un ejercicio de análisis sociohistórico, la investigación se basó en fuentes documentales (informes, boletines y legislaciones), en entrevistas con profesionales directamente involucrados con la erradicación de la viruela y en parte de la producción intelectual de estos respecto del tema.

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to understand actions taken towards smallpox eradication in Brazil, in the framework of the Smallpox Eradication campaign that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The article argues that, in addition to the bifurcated needle and the lyophilized vaccine, epidemiological surveillance - based on the construction of instruments and protocols for health surveillance - was the third key element that guaranteed the eradication of the disease. The hypothesis is that the actions taken towards the control and eradication of smallpox contributed to the construction of new health institutions within Brazil. As an exercise of socio-historical analysis, this research was based on documentary sources (reports, newsletters and legislation), interviews with professionals directly involved in the eradication of smallpox, and part of the intellectual production on the subject.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este artículo es comprender las acciones para combatir la viruela en Brasil, en el marco de la Campaña de Erradicación de la Viruela, que tuvo lugar en las décadas de 1960 y 1970. Se intenta argumentar que, además de la aguja bifurcada y de la vacuna liofilizada, la vigilancia epidemiológica -a partir de la construcción de instrumentos y protocolos de vigilancia en salud- fue el tercer elemento clave que garantizó la erradicación de la enfermedad. La hipótesis que se pretende sustentar es que las acciones de control y erradicación de la viruela contribuyeron a la construcción de nuevas instituciones de salud en el interior de Brasil. Como un ejercicio de análisis sociohistórico, la investigación se basó en fuentes documentales (informes, boletines y legislaciones), en entrevistas con profesionales directamente involucrados con la erradicación de la viruela y en parte de la producción intelectual de estos respecto del tema.