Re: Veracruz and Nayarit- Flaccid Paralysis in the region of Orizaba, 33 sick, 2 dead
Re: Veracruz and Nayarit- Flaccid Paralysis in the region of Orizaba, 33 sick, 2 dead
http://excelsior.com.mx/index.php?m=nota&id_nota=697773
Spanish to English translation
SSA denies link with vaccine and H1N1 outbreak
The deputy director of epidemiology says there is no evidence that flaccid paralysis is caused by the vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome
Georgina Olson
Related Notes
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MEXICO CITY, Dec. 18 .-
Of the 42 cases of acute flaccid paralysis have been presented in Veracruz and Nayarit none have been caused by the application of the vaccine against influenza A H1N1 or which is used to attack the influenza Seasonal also still have no evidence to prove that the disease is Guillain-Barré syndrome, said in an interview with Excelsior Dr. Hugo López-Gatell, deputy general director of epidemiology at the Health Secretariat (SSA).
"No, there is no evidence linking the vaccine against influenza A virus H1N1 or other influenza season, with the occurrence of these cases of acute flaccid paralysis," the official said.
The epidemiologist said that
35 cases of acute flaccid paralysis, only two received the vaccine against seasonal influenza, one of whom was a woman, 48, who died on November 1, and in that case said: "The evidence outbreak study available does not suggest in any way that may have association between paralysis and the vaccine was put to this woman. "
He explained that the concern that the flaccid paralysis may be related to influenza vaccine dates back to 1976, the year in Texas, United States, experienced an outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis, after the population had been applied vaccine against influenza A H1N1.
One of the most robust findings of the investigations were made on the 1976 outbreak is that the vaccine used at that time could have caused acute flaccid paralysis, "he said.
López-Gatell recalled that the influenza virus A H1N1 was first introduced in 1918 and 1919 worldwide, and in 1976 in Texas, and the virus that appeared in Mexico in 2009 "was a recombination of gene segments of different viruses, but expressed antigens and antigen N1 H1. "
Thus, the virus (which appeared in Mexico in 2009) was very similar but not identical to the 1918 nor 1976, he said.
He explained that in Mexico, in 2009, "just in anticipation of this historical background, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the 192 member states, including Mexico, which were mounted surveillance systems for acute flaccid paralysis, in particular Guillain-Barre syndrome, in order to timely detect whether or not such a vaccine would result. "
He said that in Mexico, the National Epidemiological Surveillance made some changes to their procedures to "have greater ability to detect acute flaccid paralysis."
This system was implemented in December 2009, just before they start implementing the first vaccine against the H1N1 virus, explained that "the results of such monitoring is very reassuring in the sense that we did not have excess cases of acute flaccid paralysis or Guillain-Barré syndrome. "
The average number of cases of acute flaccid paralysis that occur in Mexico each year is one case per million population, meaning that each year there are between 100 and 120 cases, a figure that, according to López-Gatell, no increased following the application of vaccines against seasonal influenza and H1N1.
On the causes might be behind this outbreak of paralysis in Veracruz and Nayarit replied: "I still do not know." Specified that cases that have appeared in Nayarit not seem related to each other epidemiologically not seem related to the case of Veracruz.
"There is no connection between the two groups, there is no family relationship and know each other, or have traveled from one place to another, it seems not be the same clinical phenomenon," he said.
The official explained that has not been proven that the paralysis is caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome, said that the scenarios suggest that the paralysis could be caused by a very wide range of diseases. "The list of diseases that could cause this evil is about 190 possibilities, usually takes some time to identify the disease that causes paralysis," he said.
Dan discharged 20 patients with poor
XALAPA .- The Ministry of Health of Veracruz reported that 20 of the 33 patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome already been discharged and the remainder is still in treatment. Meanwhile, Javier Duarte governor reiterated that the outbreak of the disease, which paralyzes the muscles and can lead to death, is completely controlled.
In the region of Orizaba, which registered 23 cases of acute flaccid paralysis and surrounding municipalities, qualified personnel continues to raise environmental samples, among others. The intention, he settled in a statement, is "finding the cause of paralysis."
Of the patients who had symptoms of this disease, the agency reported that 20 had been discharged and were in their houses, the rest remains in treatment.The disease was detected in late November in the area of Orizaba, where two patients died as a result. The number of people with symptoms increased to 23 in early December and between 7 and 14 of the same month reached 33.
Javier Duarte Governor requested the support of the media to report that this disease is not contagious. "
2010-12-18 03:58:00
