scholarly journals Global Geographical and Temporal Patterns of Seasonal Influenza and Associated Climatic Factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-68
Author(s):  
Kunjal Dave ◽  
Patricia C Lee
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Vaccination Recommendations ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
And Control ◽  
Influenza Seasonality

Abstract Understanding geographical and temporal patterns of seasonal influenza can help strengthen influenza surveillance to early detect epidemics and inform influenza prevention and control programs. We examined variations in spatiotemporal patterns of seasonal influenza in different global regions and explored climatic factors that influence differences in influenza seasonality, through a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications. The literature search was conducted to identify original studies published between January 2005 and November 2016. Studies were selected using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was influenza cases; additional outcomes included seasonal or temporal patterns of influenza seasonality, study regions (temperate or tropical), and associated climatic factors. Of the 2,160 records identified in the selection process, 36 eligible studies were included. There were significant differences in influenza seasonality in terms of the time of onset, duration, number of peaks, and amplitude of epidemics between temperate and tropical/subtropical regions. Different viral types, cocirculation of influenza viruses, and climatic factors, especially temperature and absolute humidity, contributed to the variations in spatiotemporal patterns of seasonal influenza. The findings reported in this review could inform global surveillance of seasonal influenza and influenza prevention and control measures such as vaccination recommendations for different regions.

scholarly journals Brief communication (Original). Effectiveness of influenza control using nonpharmaceutical interventions at primary schools in Nakhon Phanom Province, Northeast Thailand

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nutcharat Mangklakeree ◽  
Somdej Pinitsoontorn ◽  
Sompong Srisaenpang
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching Aids ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
And Control

AbstractBackground: The world is entering the post-outbreak period of the 2009 A H1N1 strain of the influenza virus. The strain is expected to continue spreading, as seasonal influenza viruses do each year. The majority of children have relatively low immunity and engage in activities at school where opportunities abound for exposure to and spreading of diseases.Objectives: We compared the effectiveness of influenza prevention by using non-pharmaceutical measures in primary schools.Methods: This study was conducted at two medium-sized primary schools in Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand. Multistage sampling was used to select students from Grades 4 to 6. The study group consisted of 230 students from the 2 schools and the control group 224 students from the 2 schools. The research included (a) 8 h of instruction on influenza-like illnesses and their prevention integrated into health promotion and physical education classes and (b) building understanding among parents and in the community. Data were analyzed for frequencies, percentages, and multiple logistic regression.Results: Non-pharmaceutical influenza interventions reduced the rate of influenza-like illnesses by 77% (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.15"0.36). Students who did not receive the influenza-like prevention and control training had a morbidity of 54.9%; whereas those who received the training had a morbidity of 23.5%. Overall, the group receiving the educational model saw a 57% reduction in its morbidity compared with the control group. The students in the intervention group who washed their hands for 20 seconds three or more times per day had a morbidity of 38.9%, which resulted in an overall reduction in morbidity of 36.4%. The morbidity rate of students who missed school because they were ill was 39.5%. When comparing training methods, the hand-washing group saw morbidity reduced by 34.7%, while simply receiving news and information from public health officials resulted in only a 29.2% reduction in morbidity. Overall, the group receiving the disease prevention and control training was able to reduce morbidity by 58.7%.Conclusion: Influenza prevention education among students was integrated into the health education curriculum. Children were taught hand-washing and respiratory etiquette (i.e., covering the nose and face when sneezing, coughing, and nose-blowing). Cartoon media were used as visual teaching aids. The results from this program helped to decrease the number of cases of influenza-like illness and morbidity among students and families.

scholarly journals Seasonal Influenza Prevention and Control Progress in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Context of the Global Influenza Strategy and the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea S. Vicari ◽  
Daniel Olson ◽  
Alba Vilajeliu ◽  
Jon K. Andrus ◽  
Alba Maria Ropero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
And Control

Each year in Latin America and the Caribbean, seasonal influenza is associated with an estimated 36,500 respiratory deaths and 400,000 hospitalizations. Since the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, the Region has made significant advances in the prevention and control of seasonal influenza, including improved surveillance systems, burden estimates, and vaccination of at-risk groups. The Global Influenza Strategy 2019–2030 provides a framework to strengthen these advances. Against the backdrop of this new framework, the University of Colorado convened in October 2020 its Immunization Advisory Group of Experts to review and discuss current surveillance, prevention, and control strategies for seasonal influenza in Latin America and the Caribbean, also in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review identified five areas for action and made recommendations specific to each area. The Region should continue its efforts to strengthen surveillance and impact evaluations. Existing data on disease burden, seasonality patterns, and vaccination effectiveness should be used to inform decision-making at the country level as well as advocacy efforts for programmatic resources. Regional and country strategic plans should be prepared and include specific targets for 2030. Existing investments in influenza prevention and control, including for immunization programs, should be optimized. Finally, regional partnerships, such as the regional networks for syndromic surveillance and vaccine effectiveness evaluation (SARInet and REVELAC-i), should continue to play a critical role in continuous learning and standardization by sharing experiences and best practices among countries.

scholarly journals Seasonal influenza prevention and control in Taiwan—Strategies revisited

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-ping Su ◽  
Tsung-Pei Tsou ◽  
Chang-Hsun Chen ◽  
Tzou-Yien Lin ◽  
Shan-Chwen Chang
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
And Control

Will Routine Annual Influenza Prevention and Control Systems Serve the United States Well in a Pandemic?

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (S2) ◽  
pp. S160-S165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne S. Ringel ◽  
Melinda Moore ◽  
John Zambrano ◽  
Nicole Lurie
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
The Public ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess the extent to which the systems in place for prevention and control of routine annual influenza could provide the information and experience needed to manage a pandemic.Methods: The authors conducted a qualitative assessment based on key informant interviews and the review of relevant documents.Results: Although there are a number of systems in place that would likely serve the United States well in a pandemic, much of the information and experience needed to manage a pandemic optimally is not available.Conclusions: Systems in place for routine annual influenza prevention and control are necessary but not sufficient for managing a pandemic, nor are they used to their full potential for pandemic preparedness. Pandemic preparedness can be strengthened by building more explicitly upon routine influenza activities and the public health system’s response to the unique challenges that arise each influenza season (eg, vaccine supply issues, higher than normal rates of influenza-related deaths). (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3(Suppl 2):S160–S165)

scholarly journals An Overview of Influenza Viruses and Vaccines

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1032
Author(s):  
Rina Fajri Nuwarda ◽  
Abdulsalam Abdullah Alharbi ◽  
Veysel Kayser
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Influenza Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Testing Methods ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
And Control

Influenza remains one of the major public health concerns because it causes annual epidemics and can potentially instigate a global pandemic. Numerous countermeasures, including vaccines and antiviral treatments, are in use against seasonal influenza infection; however, their effectiveness has always been discussed due to the ongoing resistance to antivirals and relatively low and unpredictable efficiency of influenza vaccines compared to other vaccines. The growing interest in vaccines as a promising approach to prevent and control influenza may provide alternative vaccine development options with potentially increased efficiency. In addition to currently available inactivated, live-attenuated, and recombinant influenza vaccines on the market, novel platforms such as virus-like particles (VLPs) and nanoparticles, and new vaccine formulations are presently being explored. These platforms provide the opportunity to design influenza vaccines with improved properties to maximize quality, efficacy, and safety. The influenza vaccine manufacturing process is also moving forward with advancements relating to egg- and cell-based production, purification processes, and studies into the physicochemical attributes and vaccine degradation pathways. These will contribute to the design of more stable, optimized vaccine formulations guided by contemporary analytical testing methods and via the implementation of the latest advances in the field.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document