The potential risks and impact of the start of the 2015–2016 influenza season in the WHO European Region: a rapid risk assessment
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND Countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region are reporting more severe influenza activity in the 2015-2016 season compared to previous seasons. OBJECTIVES To conduct a rapid risk assessment to provide interim information on the severity of the current influenza season METHODS: Using the WHO manual for rapid risk assessment of acute public health events and surveillance data available from Flu News Europe, an assessment of the current influenza season from 28 September 2015 (week 40/2015) up to 31 January 2016 (week 04/2016) was made compared with the 4 previous seasons. RESULTS The current influenza season started around week 51/2015 with higher influenza activity reported in eastern Europe compared to Western Europe. There is a strong predominance of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 compared to previous seasons, but the virus is antigenically similar to the strain included in the seasonal influenza vaccine. Compared to the 2014/2015 season, there was a rapid increase in the number of severe cases in eastern European countries with the majority of such cases occurring among adults aged <65 years. CONCLUSIONS The current influenza season is characterised by an early start in eastern European countries, with indications of a more severe season. Currently circulating influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are similar antigenically to those included in the seasonal influenza vaccine and the vaccine is expected to be effective. Authorities should provide information to the public and health providers about the current influenza season, recommendations for treatment of severe disease and effective public health measures to prevent influenza transmission. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
منابع مشابه
Potential human health risk assessment of heavy metals in the flesh of mallard and pochard in the South Eastern Caspian Sea region of Iran
Every year, migratory waterfowl are hunted and consumed by people in Golestan Province of Iran. Due to the heavy metal contamination of wintering habitats, an estimation of the human health risks associated with the consumption of these ducks is necessary. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the health risks of exposure to cadmium (Cd), total chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and...
متن کاملRapid risk assessment during the early weeks of the 2015‐2016 influenza season in Ukraine
BACKGROUND Several eastern European countries reported a severe influenza season to the World Health Organization (WHO) during late 2015. A country-specific rapid risk assessment for Ukraine was conducted to assess the season's severity and inform public health action. METHODS The exposure and hazard were assessed using acute respiratory infection (ARI), severe acute respiratory infection (SA...
متن کاملAssessment of health risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals by semi-quantitative method in a gas refinery complex
Background: Gas refining is a process in which workers are exposed to different chemicals. This study aimed to assess the health risks caused by exposure to these substances in order to determine hazardous jobs and to present controlling methods. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on the workers at gas refinery in 2015. The sample included all the staff in operat...
متن کاملIdentification and Prioritization of Hazards and Threats Based on the Risk Matrix Model (Case Study: Assalouyeh region)
Background and objective: The most important step in disaster management is recognizing the correct, accurate and wise of the potential risks and threats that may occur. Rationally, the distribution of limited resources among a lot of hazards and threats is neither feasible nor possible; therefore, at the first the hazards and threats of each region should be identify and prioritize through a r...
متن کاملExposure Assessment of Total Mercury: A Probabilistic-Approach Study Based on Consumption of Canned Fish
Introduction: Exposure to mercury (Hg) by consumption of fish is a recent health concern. So, it is important to evaluate the health risks related to canned fish consumption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential health risk based on Hg concentration in people who consumed canned fish with a probabilistic approach in Isfahan City, the central province in Iran. Materials an...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
دوره 10 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2016