scholarly journals Influenza activity in the Southern Hemisphere: a preliminary look at the winter 2007 season

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (34) ◽  
Author(s):  
Collective Editorial team

Human seasonal influenza occurs in the northern and southern hemispheres in epidemics in the colder months of the year. These vary annually in their mix of viruses (which constantly evolve), the severity of the illness and the ‘fit’ with the vaccine composition, which is reviewed annually by the World Health Organization (WHO) for each hemisphere.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayako Matsuda ◽  
Kei Asayama ◽  
Taku Obara ◽  
Naoto Yagi ◽  
Takayoshi Ohkubo

Abstract Background: Few reports have longitudinally investigated seasonal influenza epidemiological surveillance data of pediatric populations in the metropolitan areas of Japan. We aimed to provide descriptive characteristics of circulating influenza and to investigate the usefulness of setting thresholds for influenza in children (0–15 years old) in two satellite cities of a metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan, for five consecutive seasons of the influenza epidemic.Methods: The survey was conducted annually during the influenza season, from 2014 to 2018 (ending March 2019), at preschools (kindergartens and nursery schools), elementary schools, and junior high schools located in Toda and Warabi cities, Saitama prefecture. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics and established thresholds using the World Health Organization method.Results: Of the 108,362 children (21,024 to 22,088 throughout five seasons) who received the questionnaire, 76,753 (70.8%; 14,652 to 15,808) responded. After exclusion of responses without basic information, 64,586 children were included in the analysis, of which 13,754 (21.3%) had tested positive for influenza. Influenza type A was generally dominant, whereas type B was responsible for a substantial share of all influenza cases (>40% in seasons 2015 and 2017, when type A circulated with low incidence). The weeks when the influenza epidemic peaked had no clear seasonal pattern among the surveyed years, i.e., the peaks appeared at week 51 (mid-December) or later, whereas the World Health Organization methods reported that the median period when a peak was observed was at 3 weeks (mid-January), regardless of school age group.Conclusions: The present information obtained from the epidemiological survey regarding seasonal influenza in children would be useful for general practitioners, health policymakers, and planners who establish prevention and control methods against influenza.


2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (41) ◽  
Author(s):  
S G Sullivan ◽  
H Kelly

Twice each year the World Health Organization makes a recommendation for the composition of the influenza vaccine, based on circulating strains of influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1) and B. Strain selection has always been based on immunogenicity studies with limited human data. Immunogenicity can be considered as a proxy for vaccine effectiveness (VE). However, only interim VE estimates for the target hemisphere can be considered in time for the strain selection meeting. Using surveillance data from Victoria, Australia, we retrospectively estimated and compared interim and final VE estimates for 2007 to 2012. In general, interim estimates were within five percentage points of final estimates. However, estimates made too early or in years of low influenza activity may be unreliable.


2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (07) ◽  
pp. 526-527

Coenen M et al. [Recommendation for the collection and analysis of data on participation and disability from the perspective of the World Health Organization]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2016; 59: 1060–1067 Um eine gleichberechtigte Teilhabe an der Gesellschaft von Menschen mit Behinderung zu ermöglichen, werden zunächst Daten zu vorhandenen Einschränkungen gebraucht. Erst wenn diese detailliert erhoben wurden, können Konzepte zur Beseitigung von Problemen entwickelt werden. Ein standardisiertes Erhebungsinstrument für alle Aspekte der Funktionsfähigkeit fehlte jedoch bisher.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (31) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Nicole Maria Miyamoto Bettini ◽  
Fabiana Tomé Ramos ◽  
Priscila Masquetto Vieira de Almeida

A Organização Mundial da Saúde - OMS confirmou a circulação internacional do novo Coronavírus em janeiro de 2020, nomeando-o como COVID-19 e, declarando uma pandemia. É de extrema importância que durante a pandemia, os profissionais de saúde tenham acesso e conhecimento sobre o uso correto dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) e suas indicações, tomando assim, as devidas precauções na prevenção de infecções. O presente estudo buscou identificar a padronização mundial quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a pacientes suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19 no Brasil, EUA, China, Espanha, Itália e demais países europeus. Os guidelines apresentam a padronização quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19, indo ao encontro das recomendações fornecidas pela OMS. Até o momento, o uso de EPIs é sem dúvida a estratégia mais importante e eficaz para proteger os profissionais de saúde durante a assistência ao paciente com COVID-19.Descritores: Infecções por Coronavírus, Equipamento de Proteção Individual, Pessoal de Saúde, Enfermagem. Recommendations for personal protective equipment to combat COVID-19Abstract: The World Health Organization - WHO confirmed the international circulation of the new Coronavirus in January 2020, naming it as COVID-19 and declaring a pandemic. It is extremely important that during the pandemic, health professionals have access and knowledge about the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its indications, thus taking appropriate precautions to prevent infections. The present study sought to identify the worldwide standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, USA, China, Spain, Italy and other European countries. The guidelines present a standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed with COVID-19, in line with the recommendations provided by WHO. To date, the use of PPE is undoubtedly the most important and effective strategy to protect healthcare professionals during care for patients with COVID-19.Descriptors: Coronavirus Infections, Personal Protective Equipment, Health Personnel, Nursing. Recomendaciones para el equipo de protección personal para combatir COVID-19Resumen: La Organización Mundial de la Salud - La OMS confirmó la circulación internacional del nuevo Coronavirus en enero de 2020, nombrándolo COVID-19 y declarando una pandemia. Es extremadamente importante que durante la pandemia, los profesionales de la salud tengan acceso y conocimiento sobre el uso correcto del Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) y sus indicaciones, tomando así las precauciones adecuadas para prevenir infecciones. El presente estudio buscó identificar la estandarización mundial con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para atender a pacientes sospechosos y/o confirmados con COVID-19 en Brasil, Estados Unidos, China, España, Italia y otros países europeos. Las pautas presentan la estandarización con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para cuidar COVID-19 sospechoso y/o confirmado, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones proporcionadas por la OMS. Hasta la fecha, el uso de EPP es, sin duda, la estrategia más importante y efectiva para proteger a los profesionales de la salud durante la atención de pacientes con COVID-19.Descriptores: Infecciones por Coronavirus, Equipo de Protección Personal, Personal de Salud, Enfermería.


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