ABSTRACT
La influenza es responsable de incremento en la morbilidad y mortalidad, del costo de las hospitalizaciones y de ausentismo escolar y laboral. Es producida por el virus de la influenza perteneciente a la familia Orthomixoviridae y es un virus ARN envuelto. El período de incubación va de 1 a 4 días. Las manifestaciones clínicas incluyen fiebre y varían desde conjuntivitis leve a neumonía grave con falla multiorgánica, hemorragia pulmonar, náuseas, vómito y diarrea. Se ha reportado pandemias importantes con cifras de defunciones alarmantes. La influencia AH1N1, actualmente circulante desde marzo del 2009, es el producto de la recombinación genética del virus de la influenza porcina euroasiática, influenza porcina de Norteamérica, influenza aviar no H5, e influenza humana. Hasta el 13 de septiembre del presente año la OMS ha notificado la apararición de más de 296471 casos y al menos 3486 defunciones. En la regtión de América se informa de más de 124126 casos con 2625 defunciones. Según el Ministerio de Salud, en Venezuela se informa de 5171 casos sospechosos, 1316 confirmados y 67 defunciones por influenza AH1N1, hasta el 17 de septiembre de 2009. El lavado frecuente de manos, aislamiento de los sospechosos, tratamiento con oseltamivir o zanamivir y la inmunización al personal susceptible al tener disponible la vacuna son medidas indispensables en la prevención de la diseminación de la pandemia.
Influenza impacts morbidity, mortality and health care costs. It causes school and work absenteeism. The responsible microorganisms are RNA viruses belonging to Orthomixoviridae family. Uncomplicated influenza begins after an incubation period of 1 to 4 days. Symptoms include fever, and in some cases mild conjunctivitis, but other patients have severe pneumonia with multiorgan failure, pulmonary bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. New influenza AH1N1 is a genetic recombination of Euro-Asian swine influenza virus, seasonal influenza virus, and H3N2 virus as the one isolated in Australia in 2007 (A/Brisbane/10/2007). As of September 13, 2009, the World Health Organization reported more than 296471 confirmed cases worldwide with at least 3486 deaths. In the Americas the figure reaches more than 124126 cases, and 2625 dealths. Venezuelan Ministry of Health has confirmed 1316 cases with 67 deaths. Regular hand hygiene measures, isolation of cases, oseltamivir or zanamivir therapy to suspected or confirmed cases, and vaccination of susceptible people once the new vaccines become available are all important prevention measures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/mortality , Influenza, Human/virology , Alphainfluenzavirus/immunology , Oseltamivir/administration & dosage , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/pathogenicity , Epidemiological Monitoring/standards , Reassortant Viruses/immunology , Zanamivir/administration & dosage , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Infectious Disease Medicine , Universal Precautions/methodsABSTRACT
Rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea and a leading cause of mortality in children, has been a priority target for vaccine development for the past several years. The first rotavirus vaccine licensed in the United States was withdrawn because of an association of the vaccine with intussusception. However, the need for a vaccine is greatest in the developing world, because the benefits of preventing deaths due to rotavirus disease are substantially greater than the risk of intussusception. Early vaccines were based on animal strains. More recently developed and licensed vaccines are either animal-human re-assortants or are based on human strains. In India, two candidate vaccines are in the development process, but have not yet reached efficacy trials. Many challenges regarding vaccine efficacy and safety remain. In addition to completing clinical evaluations of vaccines in development in settings with the highest disease burden and virus diversity, there is also a need to consider alternative vaccine development strategies.