doiSerbia

Importation and spread of pandemic influenza virus a(H1N1) in Autonomous Province of vojvodina in preepidemic period

Ristić Mioljub (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Centar za kontrolu i prevenciju bolesti, Novi Sad)
Šeguljev Zorica (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Centar za kontrolu i prevenciju bolesti, Novi Sad)
Nedeljković Jasminka (Institut za virusologiju, vakcine i serume „Torlak”, Beograd)
Ilić Svetlana (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Centar za kontrolu i prevenciju bolesti, Novi Sad)
Injac Dragica (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Centar za kontrolu i prevenciju bolesti, Novi Sad)
Đekić Jelena (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Centar za kontrolu i prevenciju bolesti, Novi Sad)

Introduction. Influenza is the most frequently reported communicable disease, having epidemic and pandemic potential. The first influenza pandemic in this century started in Mexico and spread quickly throughout the world. This paper analyses importation of pandemic influenza cases and local transmission among population in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Material and methods. According to the WHO guidelines and national recommendations, the influenza surveillance activities were conducted in Vojvodina in order to detect, isolate and treat affected international travelers and their close contacts. Patients whose pandemic influenza infection was laboratory confirmed were classified as confirmed cases, while those with symptoms who were epidemiologically linked with confirmed cases were classified as probable cases. Results. During the period from the 24th of June to 17th of August 2009, 123 pandemic influenza cases were recorded in Vojvodina. Infection was imported through international travelers and our citizens coming from countries affected by influenza outbreaks. Majority of cases had mild clinical picture. Most frequently reported symptoms were high fever (above 38oC) (85.6%), and cough (61.6%). Difficulty in breathing was recorded in 20 (16.0%) cases, while pneumonia developed in 4 (3.2%) cases but none of the cases required mechanical ventilation. Conclusion. The imported cases of pandemic influenza in the pre-epidemic period led to limited local transmission in general population and caused a small outbreak among visitors of International music festival called EXIT.

Keywords: Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Disease Outbreaks, Health Policy, Communicable Diseases +transmission, Communicable Disease + epidemiology, Communicable Disease Control, Communicable Diseases, Emerging, Signs and Symptoms