Flu: An Epidemic of Misconceptions (original) (raw)
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2013
since 2000, a sentinel surveillance of influenza, INFLUNeT, exists in Italy. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and is divided into two parts; one of these is coordinated by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the other by the Inter-University centre for Research on Influenza and other Transmissible Infections (cIRI-IT). The influenza surveillance system performs its activity from the 42 nd week of each year (mid-October) to the 17 th week of the following year (late april). Only during the pandemic season (2009/2010) did surveillance continue uninterruptedly. sentinel physicians-about 1,200 general practitioners and independent pediatricians-send in weekly reports of cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) among their patients (over 2% of the population of Italy) to these centers. In order to estimate the burden of pandemic and seasonal influenza, we examined the epidemiological data collected over the last 3 seasons (2009-2012). On the basis of the incidences of ILIs at different ages, we estimated that:
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 2018
Influenza vaccines represent a major tool to contain the clinical and epidemiological burden generated by influenza. However, in spite of their effectiveness, vaccines are victims of prejudices and false myths, which contribute to the increasing phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy and loss of confidence. Media and, mainly, new media, and information and communication technologies play a major role in disseminating health-related information. While, on the one hand, they can be extremely promising in promoting disease prevention, on the other hand, they can also have a negative impact on population's health attitudes and behaviors when delivering information not based on scientific evidences. The "Fluad-case" is an excellent example of the crucial role of an adequate information campaign. Following the cluster of deaths allegedly related to the administration of the adjuvanted influenza vaccine "Fluad" during the 2014-2015 influenza campaign, the Italian health au...
Ten years (2004-2014) of influenza surveillance in Northern Italy
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 2014
As the regional influenza reference centre operating within the Italian network InfluNet, here we report data on virological and epidemiological surveillance of influenza, as well as on the vaccination coverage rates achieved in Lombardy (Northern Italy) over 10 consecutive winter seasons (2004-2014). Over the past 10 years, influenza vaccine coverage declined both in the general population (from 15.7% in 2004-2005 to 11.7% in 2013-2014) and in the vaccine-target population of individuals ≥65-y-of-age (from 65.3% in 2004-2005 to 48.6% in 2013-2014) and is far below the minimum planned threshold level (75%). The highest influenza-like illness (ILI) rates were recorded during the 2004-2005 and 2009-2010 epidemics (peak incidence: 12.04‰ and 13.28‰, respectively). Both seasons were characterised by the introduction of novel viral strains: A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2) (a drifted hemagglutinin variant) and A/California/7/2009(H1N1) pandemic virus (a swine origin quadruple reassortant), resp...
The response of the Liguria Region (Italy) to the pandemic influenza virus A/H1N1sv
Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene, 2011
Influenza is a cause of acute respiratory disease. It has a typical epidemic nature during the winter season, but may also assume a pandemic pattern when a completely new virus spreads among humans. Influenza places a heavy economic and healthcare burden on both the National Health Service and society. During the 2009/2010 influenza pandemic season, the Liguria Region drew upon the specific skills of the various sectors of the Department of Health and Social Services. In collaboration with the Department of Health Sciences of the University of Genova, the Regional Health Agency (RHA) and other public organizations, steps were taken to address the issues of technical and scientific updating and the coordination of all the departments of Local Healthcare Units in Liguria. The main activities conducted at the regional level provided an adequate response to the influenza pandemic. These activities focused on Local and National Influenza Surveillance Systems, the regional Pandemic Plan, ...
Trends for Influenza-related Deaths during Pandemic and Epidemic Seasons, Italy, 1969–2001
Emerg. Infect. Dis., 2007
Age-specifi c patterns of death from infl uenza vary, depending on whether the infl uenza season is epidemic or pandemic. We assessed age patterns and geographic trends in monthly infl uenza-related deaths in Italy from 1969 through 2001, focusing on differences between epidemic and pandemic seasons. We evaluated age-standardized excess deaths from pneumonia and infl uenza and from all causes, using a modifi ed version of a cyclical Serfl ing model. Excess deaths were highest for elderly persons in all seasons except the infl uenza A (H3N2) pandemic season , when rates were greater for younger persons, confi rming a shift toward death of younger persons during pandemic seasons. When comparing northern, central, and southern Italy, we found a high level of synchrony in the amplitude of peaks of infl uenza-related deaths.