WEEKLY REPORT CONTENTSPROGRAMA DE GDD/CDC–CAP Influenza Program

I.SEASONAL AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA SITUATION SUMMARY

II. RESPIRATORY VIRAL CIRCULATION

i.Respiratory Viral Circulation during last week in Central America

ii. Respiratory Viral Circulation by Country:

a.Costa Rica

b. Honduras

c. Dominican Republic

d.Nicaragua

e.Guatemala

iii.Respiratory Viral Circulation according to Community Surveillance (ViCo, by its acronyms in

Spanish) in Guatemala

iv.Influenza Activity in Central America

III.INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE IN THE MEDIA

i. News in Central American Newspapers

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IV.REGIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE GDD CDC-CAP REGIONAL INFLUENZA PROGRAM

i.Regional Activities of the Influenza Program in Central America

ii.Influenza Program activities by countries

iii.GDD/CDC-CAP selected indicators summary

V.PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO PANDEMIC BY SUBJECTS OF INTEREST

i.Strategies to build surveillance data handling and analysis capabilities.

SEASONAL AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA SITUATION SUMMARY CENTRAL AMERICA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

· Guatemalan Community Surveillance (ViCo) reports mainly Influenza B and A (H3).

· Costa Rica has not reported confirmed influenza A H1N1 case since EW 33; instead, it

reports Seasonal Influenza A (H3), RSV and Adenovirus with a downward trend.

· According to PAHO´s last report, Honduras has the third place in deaths due to influenza

A/H1N1 in Central America.

RESPIRATORY VIRAL CIRCULATION SUMMARY CENTRAL AMERICA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Based on Epidemiology Report from PAHO for EW 43, the circulation of respiratory viruses

varies in Central America:

· Costa Rica reports steady positivity percentages with adenovirus circulation, seasonal

influenza, influenza B and respiratory syncytial, during EW 43.

· Honduras reports very low percentages of viral positivity, exclusively for respiratory

syncytial virus circulation.

· Dominican Republic continues to report high positivity percentages for respiratory

syncytial virus, during EW 43.

VIRAL CIRCULATION IN COSTA RICA

Source: Regional update EW 43 Influenza (November 8, 2010 -17 h GMT; 12 h EST). PAHO

Distribution of respiratory virus positive specimen by epidemiological week-2010, Costa Rica.

Percentage of positives as per the total of samples from SARI cases by epidemiological week-2010, Costa Rica.

Source: Survey to NIC responsible. Dra. Jenny Lara. INCIENSA. November 10, 2010

VIRAL CIRCULATION IN HONDURAS

Fuente: Regional

Update EW 43 Influenza

(November 8, 2010 -17 h

GMT; 12 h EST) PAHO

Received, processed and positive samples according to the origin, by epidemiological week- 2010, Honduras.

Tested specimen distribution according to lab technique by epidemiological week-2010, Honduras.

Distribution of respiratory virus positives specimens by epidemiological week-2010, Honduras.

Percentage of positives as per total of SARI cases, by epidemiological week-2010, Honduras.

Source: Survey to NIC responsible

Dra Rubvelinda Rivera. National Virology

Laboratory, November 10, 2010.

VIRAL CIRCULATION IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Fuente: Regional update EW

43 Influenza (November 8, 2010

-17 h GMT; 12 h EST). PAHO

VIRAL CIRCULATION IN NICARAGUA

Received, processed and positive samples according to the origin, by epidemiological week- 2010, Nicaragua.

Tested specimen distribution according to lab technique by epidemiological week-2010, Nicaragua.

Source: Survey to NIC responsible. Dr. Angel Balmaseda. CNDR. November 10, 2010.

VIRAL CIRCULATION IN GUATEMALA

Received, processed and positive samples according to the origin, by epidemiological week- 2010, Guatemala.

Tested specimen distribution according to lab technique by epidemiological week-2010, Guatemala.

Percentage of positives as per total of SARI cases, by epidemiological week-2010, Guatemala.

Distribution of respiratory virus positives specimens by epidemiological week-2010, Guatemala.

Source: Survey to NIC responsible. Dr. Leticia Castillo. LNS. November 10, 2010.

VIRAL CIRCULATION IN GUATEMALA COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE (VICO)

Fuente: VICO update EWE 44

(02/16/2009 - /11/2010).

Based on Epidemiological Bulletins from the Health Ministries of the Region for EW 43-45:

· Costa Rica has not reported confirmed influenza A H1N1 cases since EW 33, instead, it reports seasonal influenza A

(H3), RSV and Adenovirus with a downward trend.

· Guatemala reports a rate of 128.80 for pneumonia and bronchopneumonia cases up to EW 43 this year, compared to

a rate of 160.79 reported in the same date for 2009.

· El Salvador reports 38 921 accrued pneumonia cases up to November 2, 2010 (EW45), compared to 47664 accrued

cases in the same date last year.

INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE IN THE MEDIANews in Central American newspapers

GUATEMALA

A response plan to face the cold season is activated in Guatemala: Authorities recommend to clothe warmly, specially

children and elder people, to avoid respiratory diseases and hypothermia.

http://www.sigloxxi.com/nacional.php?id=22996

EL SALVADOR

Medical consultations due to pneumonia have an upward trend. Doctors say the recent winds could be causing the

increase in cases.

http://www.laprensagrafica.com/el-salvador/social/149678-consulta-por-neumonia-tiende-al-alza.html

Leptospirosis in animals has been reported in the country. The Ministry of Health reported confirmed cases of

leptospirosis in animals in the country.

http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=6364&idArt=5287523

INFLUENZA ACTIVITY

CENTRAL AMERICA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

HONDURAS

The World Bank approves $300,000 to prevent avian influenza. The World Bank approved 300,000 U.S. dollars for an

avian influenza prevention and control project.

http://www.latribuna.hn/web2.0/?p=204554

The forecast is more than 18 cold fronts up to March. There is saturation of patients in the main hospitals of the

country, due to respiratory diseases.

http://www.latribuna.hn/web2.0/?p=205659

Honduras, third place of influenza A/H1N1. According to PAHO´s last report, Honduras ranks in third place in deaths

due to influenza A/H1N1 in Central America.

http://www.laprensadehonduras.com/index.html

NICARAGUA

Leptospirosis spreads in Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur. The first case of the disease is confirmed in the single

epidemic ¨free¨ zone.

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/11/10/nacionales/43198

PANAMA

Influenza Vaccine: The vaccine will protect against swine flu and two more varieties of influenza.

http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2010/10/29/hoy/perspectiva/2384844.asp

A new vaccine has just been introduced in Panama, which counteracts different illneses caused by bacteria. The

vaccines are Synflorix (GSK laboratories) and Prevenar-13 (Pfizer laboratories).

http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2010/11/02/hoy/vivir/2387910.asp

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Medical consultations due to asthma and respiratory diseases have increased. Increases in asthma and other

respiratory infection cases are also registered in clinics.

http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2010/11/4/348757/Consultas-por-asma-y-males-respiratorios-aumentan

Children Hospital Dr. Arturo Grullón announces vaccination campaign against Pneumococcus. The goal is to reduce

infant mortality rate by pneumonia.

http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2010/11/6/349065/Hospital-infantil-anuncia-jornada-contra-Neumococo

It´s time to get vaccinated against flu or influenza. This year´s vaccine, aside from influenza, also contains the vaccine

for H1N1 or swine flu.

http://www.listin.com.do/la-vida/2010/11/7/165573/Llego-el-tiempo-de-vacunarse-contra-la-gripeo-influenza

A two-year girl has been admitted to Reid Cabral Hospital with leptospirosis. In the mean time, health centers continue

to report an increase in cases of respiratory conditions in children and adults.

http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2010/11/9/165781/Nina-de-dos-anos-esta-interna-en-el-Reid-Cabral-con-

leptospirosis

Respiratory conditions in children have increased. Asthma and bronchitis cases have increased due to rain in the

country.

http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2010/11/6/165515/Aumentan-afecciones-respiratorias-en-ninos

ABOUT CHOLERA:

America gets protected against the disease that knows no borders. All Latin American countries take measures.

http://dominicanoshoy.com/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2010&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=10&tx_

ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=39710&cHash=d117e5c6177c75dc72e1f81c92d2b2d1

Facing Cholera: Promoting prevention. What is most important in this moment, besides intensifying epidemiological

surveillance, is promotion and prevention.

http://www.hoy.com.do/opiniones/2010/11/8/349362/Ante-el-colera-promocion-para-la-prevencion

Regional Activities: REGIONAL COORDINATION The 2010-2011 Projects’ Agenda for Guatemala, Panamá and Honduras was completed on 5 de November, 2010.

ACTIVITIES BY COUNTRY GDD/CDC-CAP REGIONAL INFLUENZA PROGRAM

Program Activities in Guatemala: NETWORKING: Coordination meeting to define collaboration lines between CDC-CAP and PAHO Guatemala for 2011, November 4, 2010. SURVEILLANCE AND LABORATORY: A review on the procedures of the Sentinel Unit in San Marcos, in order to complete the implementation strategy, involving members of Health Sector’s Office in San Marcos and CDC-CAP, November 3, 2010. Program Activities in Dominican Republic SURVEILLANCE AND LABORATORY: Technical support to the Ministry of Health on prevention and Cholera control; through the review of the Protocol on Daily Surveillance of Diarrheal Diseases and daily/routine analysis on Diarrheal Diseases, November 4-5, 2010.

REGIONAL ACTIVITIES GDD/CDC-CAP REGIONAL INFLUENZA PROGRAM

CDC-CAP INFLUENZA PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BY GDD PILLARS

Source: Weekly survey to consultants hired by CDC-CAP Influenza Program, 2010-2011.

PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO PANDEMIC BY TOPICS

STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN CAPABILITIES ON SURVEILLANCE DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS. INTRODUCTION

Influenza Program of the Regional Office for Central America and Panama of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-vention (CDC-CAP), in coordination with the Ministries of Health in Central America, Panama and Dominican Repub-lic, performs activities oriented towards the strengthening of capabilities of influenza and other viruses epidemiological surveillance, which represent a threat to public health. These activities will also cover a component oriented towards the strengthening of the information systems for epidemiologic surveillance through the application of information and communication technologies (ICT). METHODOLOGY The methodological model consists in four components: Improvement on the collection and surveillance data quality, and investigation of influenza and other viruses. 1.The use of Web-based platforms, and telephone systems based on Interactive Voice Response (IVR) are proposed. The countries in scope are: a.Panama b.Guatemala c.Nicaragua d.Honduras e.Costa Rica

INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE IN PANAMA (SISVIG, BY ITS ACRONYMS IN

SPANISH)

INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INFLUENZA SENTINEL UNITS (UCETI, BY ITS ACRONYMS IN SPANISH) IN GUATEMALA

INFORMATION SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATION FORMS AND INVESTIGATION OF CASES IN GUATEMALA.

2.Data base integration of the automated sub-systems on influenza and other viruses: The proposal for this component is: to use the Business Intelligence tool, specifically software SAP Business Objects. The countries in scope are: a.Panama b.Nicaragua

INFORMATION PLATFORM OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF GUATEMALA, USING SAP BUSINESS OBJECTS

3 .Strengthening of analysis capacities of epidemiologic data on influenza and other viruses: The proposal is to use the CDC EARS tool as a complement to EpiVigila software and develop other analysis tools to strengthen the epidemiologic analysis. Countries in scope are: a.Guatemala b.Panamá c.Nicaragua

EpiVigila Software Outputs

4. Strengthening of communication and information dissemination on epidemiologic surveillance of influenza and other viruses: We propose the use of tools that may allow the production of epidemiologic bulletins and other resources to be automated to improve the dissemination of the epidemiologic information on influ-enza and other viruses. The countries in scope are: a.Panamá b.Nicaragua c.Guatemala.

Example of Guatemalan control board (Dashboard) using Xcelsius and Google Earth.

GDD/CDC-CAP INFLUENZA PROGRAM CENTRAL AMERICA AND REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

WEB page:

Influenza y Vigilancia de CDC-CAP

Contact e-mail address:

inforepflu@programainfluenza.org