Effective influenza surveillance systems are essential to understand the epidemiology and seasonality of influenza and for optimizing influenza control strategies. Influenza occurs in distinct outbreaks of varying extent every year. This epidemiologic pattern depends upon…
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More than 110 million children in India aged younger than 5 years have diarrhea, with an average of 3.2 episodes a year. It’s estimated that 7% to 8% of community-based episodes are due to rotavirus—a total of 25 million to 28 million episodes in young children a year, according to…
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Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe infant diarrhea, causing an estimated 100,000 deaths each year in India, according to the World Health Organization. While most young children in the world contract rotavirus at some point in their early childhood, the disease course is usually much more severe for children…
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Worldwide, the incidence of measles has fallen dramatically, from 4.6 cases per 1,000 people in 2000, to 1.6 cases per 1,000 in 2010, according to a newly issued report. Improvements in measles outcomes have not been keeping pace in India, however. “…The practicing pediatrician should scan through the vaccination card…
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While rubella is a mild disease, if a pregnant woman contracts it the fetus could develop congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which can cause blindness, deafness, mental handicap, and other problems. Immunization of the mother before she becomes pregnant can eliminate this risk. A systematic review published in Indian Pediatrics found…
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Recent surveys have found that nationally, only 61% of children aged 12 months to 23 months have received all 6 vaccines included in India’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP). Some surveys have reported even lower figures, especially in specific regions of the country. Key Point: Bringing immunization delivery points into the…
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Influenza Seasonality in the Tropics and Subtropics – When to Vaccinate?
Influenza disease affects up to 10% of the world’s population every year. The World Health Assembly resolved in 2003 to increase the use of seasonal influenza vaccines to protect individuals at high risk for…
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