ABSTRACT
@#On 12 September 2022, a 10-year-old female in Paracelis municipality, Mountain Province, the Philippines, without travel history outside the municipality, experienced acute onset of fever and a change in mental status with disorientation, an altered level of consciousness and new onset of seizures. She was hospitalized at the district hospital from 1 to 3 October 2022, before being transferred to the regional hospital. As diphtheria was originally suspected, the investigation team reviewed records and reports and interviewed key informants to gather additional information and organize case finding and contact tracing. The patient’s condition was laboratory-confirmed for Japanese encephalitis virus infection. An environmental survey was carried out at the patient's residence to check for the presence of vectors and contributing factors. Exemplifying inadequate vaccination coverage for Japanese encephalitis virus in Mountain Province, the patient had not been vaccinated against the disease. It is recommended that vaccination campaigns be immediately implemented in the affected area and the surveillance system be strengthened for early detection and prompt response to the emergence of cases and outbreaks. Overall, the investigation highlighted the importance of strong surveillance and response systems for early detection and control of diseases, such as Japanese encephalitis virus. It also underscores the need for comprehensive vaccination programmes to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The low prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and mRNA in biopsy samples of Filipinos with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been reported previously. Here, the HPV serologic profiles of HNSCC cases were analyzed and associated with lifestyle and sexual practices. METHODS: Serum samples were collected between May 2012 and September 2013 from HNSCC patients (n = 22) in the northwest region of the Philippines, and age- and sex-matched clinically healthy controls. Antibodies to capsid and early oncoproteins of HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58, 6, and 11 were analyzed using multiplex serology. RESULTS: Most of the cases were males with tumors of the oral cavity or larynx. Two of the cases tested positive for at least one of the early oncoproteins (E6, E7, E1, and/or E2) of HPV16, and 11 did not display reactivity to any HPV early or late oncoproteins. Of the controls, four tested positive for at least one of the HPV16 early oncoproteins, and 10 were non-reactive to all HPV types. Titers to HPV16 E6 or E7 of the seropositive cases and controls were considerably lower than those typically observed in economically developed countries. CONCLUSIONS: The low HPV titers seen here are consistent with the results of molecular analyses for this population. Hence, the seropositivity of some of the HNSCC cases is likely an indication of prior exposure to the virus and not the presence of HPV-driven tumors.