Trends of influenza infection in Suriname.

The trends of influenza infection in Suriname were assessed from February 2010 through February 2011. Testing of 393 patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) revealed 15.3% Influenza B and 18.6% could be identified as influenza A positive, consisting of 56% influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 44% seasonal A(H3N2). Influenza infection occurred throughout the year, and all three influenza types affected young children as the primary population. The annual incidence of A(H1N1)pdm09 was 6.88 per 100,000 inhabitants [CI] 4.87-9.45. The spread of influenza could neither be linked to tourist flow from the Netherlands nor to contact rates related to school schedules.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre la influenza A(H1N1) 2009 y la vacunación contra influenza pandémica: resultados de una encuesta poblacional / Knowledge, attitudes and practices about influenza A(H1N1) 2009, and influenza vaccine in Mexico: results of a population survey

OBJETIVO: Evaluar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas respecto a la pandemia de influenza, con especial énfasis en la vacuna contra influenza estacional y pandémica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con muestreo polietápico probabilístico, realizado durante diciembre de 2009 en residentes mayores de 18 años de la Ciudad de México (y área metropolitana), Monterrey, Guadalajara y Mérida. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 1 600 sujetos (48.9% masculino); 34% había recibido vacuna contra influenza estacional en años pasados, 90.6% estaba dispuesto a recibir la vacuna contra A(H1N1). La principal causa de rechazo a la vacunación fue no confiar en la vacuna (46.5%). Principales medidas preventivas identificadas por los encuestados: lavado de manos (47.5%), vacuna contra A(H1N1) (28%) y etiqueta respiratoria (19.4%). El nivel escolar (1.7, p=0.006) y edad (1.02, p<0.001) influyeron en el rechazo a la vacuna. El 82.9% de los encuestados calificó el manejo de la situación por el Gobierno Federal como bueno o muy bueno. CONCLUSIONES: La población refirió un alto porcentaje de aceptación para la vacuna de influenza pandémica durante el inicio de la campaña de vacunación en México, comparado con la reportada en otros países. La principal razón de aquéllos que la rechazan es la desconfianza hacia la vacuna.

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding influenza pandemic, with special emphasis on issues related to influenza vaccine, seasonal and pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study, probabilistic multistage sampling in patients over 18 years, residents of Mexico City (and metropolitan area), Monterrey, Guadalajara and Merida in December 2009. RESULTS: A total of 1.600 subjects (48.9% male) were interviewed, 34% had previously received seasonal flu vaccine, 90.6% were willing to be vaccinated against A(H1N1), 46.5% of those who would not receive the vaccine was because they did not trust A (H1N1), 68% considered influenza A (H1N1) as a risk for their family. Hand washing was the preventive measure most commonly reported (47.5%), secondly influenza vaccine (28%). Schooling (1.7, p=0.006) and age (1.02, p<0.001) influence rejection to get vaccine. 82.9% of respondents rate the federal government's management as good or very good. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high acceptance rate for the pandemic influenza vaccine in Mexico when compared to similar studies in other countries, the main reason for those who reject the vaccine was distrust in it.

Respiratory virus infections among hospitalized patients with suspected influenza A H1N1 2009 virus during the first pandemic wave in Brazil

INTRODUCTION: During the first pandemic wave of the influenza A H1N1 2009 virus, morbidity was particularly high in Brazil. Hospitalizations resulting from severe respiratory disease due to suspected influenza-like illness created an opportunity to identify other respiratory viruses causing lower respiratory infections. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess viral etiologies among samples collected during the first pandemic wave of H1N1 2009 from hospitalized patients with suspected cases in a Brazilian Sentinel Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Viral etiologies were investigated in samples from 98 children and 61 adults with fever, cough and dyspnea who were admitted to São Paulo Sentinel Hospital with suspected H1N1 infection. RESULTS: From August to November 2009, in 19.5 percent (31/159) of the samples 2009 H1N1 virus was detected with 23 percent (14/61) in adults (median age 25 years, range: 14-55 years) and 18.4 percent (17/92) in children (median age 5 years, range: 4 months - 11 years). Among the negative samples, a wide range of causative etiologic agents was identified. Human rhinovirus was the most frequent virus (23.91 percent) in children and human metapneumovirus (11.48 percent) was the second most frequent in adults, following 2009 H1N1 virus (22.95 percent). CONCLUSION: These data highlight the need to diagnose other viral infections that can co-circulate with influenza and may have been neglected by physicians as causes of severe respiratory diseases.

Caracterización clínica de adultos menores y mayores de 50 años hospitalizados por influenza A H1N1 2009 en un centro hospitalario privado en Santiago, Chile / Clinical features of adults younger and older than 50 years hospitalized with influenza A H1N1 2009 in a private hospital in Santiago, Chile

Introduction: The new pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 virus has shown a different clinical behavior in different age groups. Objective: To describe the clinical features of adult patients hospitalized with influenza AH1N1 2009 and compare the clinical and demographic variables among adults < 50 years and over 50 years old. Patients and Method: We included hospitalized patients between May 17 and July 17, 2009 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or rapid test for influenza A. Results: 124 patients were hospitalized with a median age of 33 years (range: 15-82 years). 36 percent had comorbidities and the main symptoms were fever, cough, myalgia and sore throat. There were 16 cases with pneumonia. From 124 patients, 77 percent were A-49 and 23 percentA-50, with comorbidity of 21 percent and 86 percent, respectively. There were no fatalities. Conclusions: Hospitalized patients had mild to moderate disease, a benign course and short hospitalization stay. There were more hospitalizations in A-49 and higher comorbidity in A-50.

Introducción: El nuevo virus influenza AH1N1 2009 ha mostrado un comportamiento clínico diferente en distintos grupos etáreos. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas de los pacientes adultos hospitalizados con influenza A H1N1 2009 y comparar las variables clínicas y demográficas entre menores y mayores de 50 años. Pacientes y Método: Se incluyeron los pacientes hospitalizados entre el 17 de mayo y 17 de julio del 2009 confirmados por reacción de polimerasa en cadena (RPC) y/o pruebas rápidas para influenza A. Resultados: Se hospitalizaron 124 pacientes con una mediana de edad de 33 años (rango: 15-82 años). Un 36 por ciento presentó co-morbilidad y los síntomas principales fueron: fiebre, tos, mialgias y odinofagia. Hubo 16 casos con neumonía. Del total, 77 por ciento fueron < 50 y 23 por ciento ≥ 50 años. Tenían co-morbilidades 21 por ciento en el grupo < 50 versus 86 por ciento en ≥ 50 años. No hubo casos fatales. Conclusiones: Los pacientes presentaron una enfermedad leve a moderada, de curso benigno y corta hospitalización. Hubo más hospitalizados en < 50 y mayor co-morbilidad en ≥ 50 años.