scholarly journals 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) in Panama: a disease affecting children with a benign course

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 664-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Nieto- Guevara ◽  
Nestor Sosa ◽  
Mariana Garcia ◽  
Alex Martinez ◽  
Marlene Castillo

Introduction: Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) was identified as the major febrile respiratory illness worldwide during the year 2009.  We present a report of its clinical and epidemiological characteristics in children and adults in Panama.  Methodology: A descriptive study from the database of the Gorgas Memorial Institute is presented.   We included patients with severe acute respiratory infection in whom a nasopharyngeal swab was positive by real-time RT-PCR for 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic virus and negative for seasonal influenza A H1 and H3. Results: From 26 April 2009 to 11 January 2010, confirmed cases of pandemic 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) reached 806. The overall incident rate was 23.35 cases of pandemic influenza per 100,000 habitants, with the highest incidence found in the age group between 10 to 14 years of age (58.67 cases per 100,000 habitants).  The median age for the cases was 13 years (ages ranging from one day to 88 years) and 71% were from the Panama City Metropolitan Area.  The male/female ratio was 1:1 and 90% were managed as out-patients.   An influenza-like syndrome was the presenting diagnosis in 99% of the cases.  Fever and cough were the most frequent symptoms reported in all age groups. The case fatality rate was 0.3 cases per 100,000 habitants. Conclusion: The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak affected mainly the pediatric population, had a low case fatality rate, and was the predominant virus circulating in Panama during the 2009/2010 flu season

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Érika Valeska Rossetto ◽  
Expedito José de Albuquerque Luna

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the clinical aspects of cases of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Brazil. Methods: A descriptive study of cases reported in Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), 2009-2010. Results: As the final classification, we obtained 53,797 (56.79%) reported cases confirmed as a new influenza virus subtype, and 40,926 (43.21%) cases discarded. Fever was the most common sign, recorded in 99.74% of the confirmed and 98.92% of the discarded cases. Among the confirmed cases, the presence of comorbidities was reported in 32.53%, and in 38.29% of the discarded cases. The case fatality rate was 4.04%; 3,267 pregnant women were confirmed positive for influenza A new viral subtype and 2,730 of them were cured. The case fatality rate of pregnant women was 6.88%. Conclusion: The findings suggested concern of the health system with pregnant women, and patients with comorbidities and quality of care may have favored a lower mortality. We recommend that, when caring for patients with severe respiratory symptoms, with comorbidities, or pregnant women, health professionals should consider the need for hospital care, as these factors make up a worse prognosis of infection by the pandemic influenza virus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saif Badran ◽  
Omran Musa ◽  
Somaya Al-maadeed ◽  
Egon Toft ◽  
Suhail Doi

Objective: Children represent a small fraction of confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a low case fatality rate (CFR). In this paper, we lay out an evidence-based policy for reopening schools. Methods: We gathered age-specific COVID-19 case counts and identified mortality data for 14 countries. Dose-response meta-analysis was used to examine the relationship of the incremental case fatality rate (CFR) to age. In addition, an evidence-to-decision framework (EtD) was used to correlate the dose-response data with other epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in childhood. Results: In the dose-response analysis, we found that there was an almost negligible fatality below age 18. CFR rose little between ages 5 to 50 years. The confidence intervals were narrow, suggesting relative homogeneity across countries. Further data suggested decreased childhood transmission from respiratory droplets and a low viral load among children. Conclusions: Opening up schools and kindergartens is unlikely to impact COVID-19 case or mortality rates in both the child and adult populations. We outline a robust plan for schools that recommends that general principles not be micromanaged, with authority left to schools and monitored by public health authorities.


Author(s):  
Mark M. Alipio ◽  
Joseph Dave M. Pregoner

AbstractThe outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-2019) is a source of great concern in the Philippines. In this paper, we described the epidemiological characteristics of the laboratory-confirmed patients with Covid-2019 in the Philippines as of April 3, 2020 and provided recommendations on how to limit the spread of the disease. Data from the DOH NCOV tracker and University of the Philippines’ Covid-2019 tracker were extracted, from its initiation (January 30, 2020) until the most recent situation report (April 3, 2020). The total number of cases and deaths were stratified by sex, age, and region of the Philippines. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic profile of the confirmed cases. Case fatality rate, in percent, was calculated by dividing the total number of deaths to the total number of confirmed cases. Results revealed that a total of 3,018 cases of Covid-2019 spread were confirmed across 17 regions in the Philippines. These cases occurred over the course of 73 days through person-to-person transmission, highlighting an extremely high infectivity rate. The 144 deaths accounted for, equate to 4.51 case fatality rate, seemingly lower compared to its predecessors, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), but higher compared to that of United States of America, Germany, mainland China, and neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Thailand. Of the 3,018 confirmed cases, majority were male, elderly, and diagnosed in Metro Manila region. Case fatality rates were higher in male and highest among elderly and Filipinos in the Ilocos region. With the surge on the number of cases, precautionary measures should remain a responsibility, and protocols for prevention need to be set. Adherence to infection control guidelines such as but not limited to frequently handwashing for at least 20 seconds, observing coughing etiquette, wearing of masks, and social distancing should be maintained in order to contain the disease.


2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T M van ‘t Klooster ◽  
C C Wielders ◽  
T Donker ◽  
L Isken ◽  
A Meijer ◽  
...  

We analysed and reported on a weekly basis clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients hospitalised in the Netherlands for the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) using information from the national mandatory notification system. The notification criteria changed on 15 August 2009 from all possible, probable and confirmed cases to only laboratory-confirmed pandemic influenza hospitalisations and deaths. In the period of comprehensive case-based surveillance (until 15 August), 2% (35/1,622) of the patients with pandemic influenza were hospitalised. From 5 June to 31 December 2009, a total of 2,181 patients were hospitalised. Of these, 10% (219/2,181) were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and 53 died. Among non-ICU hospitalised patients, 56% (961/1,722) had an underlying medical condition compared with 70% (147/211) of the patients in ICU and 46 of the 51 fatal cases for whom this information was reported. Most common complications were dehydration among non-ICU hospitalised patients and acute respiratory distress syndrome among patients in ICU and patients who died. Children under the age of five years had the highest age-specific hospitalisation rate (62.7/100,000), but relatively few were admitted to an ICU (1.7/100,000). Characteristics and admission rates of hospitalised patients were comparable with reports from other countries and previous influenza seasons. The national notification system was well suited to provide weekly updates of relevant monitoring information on the severity of the pandemic for professionals, decision makers, the media and the public, and could be rapidly adapted to changing information requirements.


1970 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Quazi Tarikul Islam ◽  
Azizul Kahhar ◽  
Syed Mohammad Arif ◽  
Ahmedul Kabir ◽  
Khan Mohammed Arif ◽  
...  

The first case of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Bangladesh was documented on June 18. Subsequently, persons with suspected cases of infection and contacts of those with suspected infection were tested. Individuals in whom infection was confirmed were hospitalized and quarantined, and some of them were closely observed for the purpose of investigating the nature and duration of the disease. In Dhaka Medical College Hospital, there were 28 admitted patients in flu ward and 2335 registered suspected H1N1 influenza cases attended in flue corner but 833 highly suspected cases were recorded in case record form. We describe the epidemiological characteristics of 28 indoor (flu ward) and 833 outdoor (flu corner) patients. Most of them were in between 20 to 30 years age group. Among 833 outdoor patients 611(73.34%) were male and 222(26.65%) were female. 354 (42.49%) patients were student, 195 (23.40%) were service holder. No patients (indoor) had any serious underlying medical conditions. Keywords: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, epidemiology. DOI:10.3329/jom.v11i1.4259 J Medicine 2010: 11: 3-6


2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Jung Kim ◽  
Byung Chul Chun ◽  
Hoo Jae Hann ◽  
Jang Wook Sohn ◽  
Sae Yoon Kee ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Wolf ◽  
Regina Ellwanger ◽  
Udo Goetsch ◽  
Nils Wetzstein ◽  
Rene Gottschalk

Abstract Rationale for Systematic Review Lassa fever is the most common cause of imported haemorrhagic fevers cases in non-endemic countries. As a disease with a high case fatality rate that has regularly caused clusters of nosocomial transmission in endemic areas, prompt diagnosis is vital. We conducted a systematic review of imported cases of the last 50 years with the aim of defining the clinical and epidemiological characteristics that will enhance early diagnosis, prompt initiation of treatment and an appropriate public health response to Lassa fever cases. Methods We performed a retrospective, systematic review of 36 primary and two secondary cases of Lassa fever in non-endemic countries outside West Africa by searching the PubMed database. This yielded 56 relevant publications that were included in our analysis. Results The case fatality rate of 35.1% for imported cases was higher than that reported for endemic countries. The majority of patients showed clinical features consistent with Lassa fever and had a typical exposure. There was a considerable delay in diagnosis in imported cases with high associated numbers of contacts. Ribavirin was rarely used for post-exposure prophylaxis. Only two secondary transmissions occurred. Thirty-one percent of patients received Lassa fever-specific treatment and five required intensive care. Conclusions Although importation of Lassa fever to non-endemic countries is a rare event, it has repeatedly happened over five decades. Suspicion of Lassa fever should be based on careful consideration of clinical features and exposure history in order to assist early diagnosis in returning travellers from West Africa.


mBio ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Osterholm ◽  
Nicholas S. Kelley

ABSTRACT Two recently submitted (but as yet unpublished) studies describe success in creating mutant isolates of H5N1 influenza A virus that can be transmitted via the respiratory route between ferrets; concern has been raised regarding human-to-human transmissibility of these or similar laboratory-generated influenza viruses. Furthermore, the potential release of methods used in these studies has engendered a great deal of controversy around publishing potential dual-use data and also has served as a catalyst for debates around the true case-fatality rate of H5N1 influenza and the capability of influenza vaccines and antivirals to impact any future unintentional or intentional release of H5N1 virus. In this report, we review available seroepidemiology data for H5N1 infection and discuss how case-finding strategies may influence the overall case-fatality rate reported by the WHO. We also provide information supporting the position that if an H5N1 influenza pandemic occurred, available medical countermeasures would have limited impact on the associated morbidity and mortality.


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