According to a recent WHO report, it has been estimated that, by the end of 2006, the total number of HIV-infected individuals in the Caribbean and Latin America will reach 1,950,000, among whom 167,000 are newly infected.
The Caribbean is the region with the second highest prevalence (1.2% of the population) of HIV in the world, after the sub-Saharan region. The epidemic is largely heterosexual and is mainly a result of gender inequality and the sex industry. Almost three quarters of HIV-infected people in the Caribbean are from the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
On average, HIV prevalence in Latin America is 0.5% but is usually higher in central Latin American countries, such as Honduras (1.5%) and El Salvador (1%). Poverty and lack of information are common factors affecting HIV transmission in this region.
A huge effort has been made recently in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean and Latin America. Access to antiviral therapy has reached 75% of those in need, which is the highest coverage in the developing world. Despite this, during the period 2004–2006, on average, 200 people died from AIDS each day in the Caribbean and Latin America.
“The future course of the world’s HIV epidemics hinges in many respects on the behaviors young people adopt and maintain. Young people should be empowered to make the right choices about their sexual life and should be motivated to take the HIV test,” said Patricio Rojas, Head of the HIV Unit of the Pan American Health Organization.
Worldwide, only one out of eight people who want to be tested for HIV is able to be. In many countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, tests are provided free of charge and current voluntary campaigns, such as ‘Know Your Status’, help increase the number of people tested.
Source: The Pan American Health Organization (www.paho.org).
USA: influenza season
Influenza season in the USA usually starts in November each year and peaks in the following February. The first confirmed case of this year’s season is a 20-month-old child in the state of Pennsylvania. The state’s Department of Health has reminded everybody to take the necessary precautions to remain healthy during this influenza season.
“The fact that our first confirmed case involved a young child is an even stronger reminder that members of high-risk groups should make every effort to get vaccinated,” said the Health Secretary, Calvin Johnson.
High-risk groups include individuals with weak immune systems, such as young children, the elderly and HIV-infected patients, or people with medical conditions, such as heart, respiratory and metabolic problems, which make them more susceptible to influenza infection.
Influenza remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization in the USA despite vaccine availability. Approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die owing to influenza-related illnesses every year in the USA. Vaccination is recommended in October before the influenza season starts. Johnson also suggested high-risk individuals receive the pneumococcal vaccine as pneumonia is commonly associated with influenza infection.
Source: The Pennsylvania Department of Health, PA, USA (www.health.state.pa.us).
Sudan: meningo-coccal meningitis
A total of 16 deaths and 231 suspected cases of meningococcal meningitis have been reported in a single county, Greater Yei, of southern Sudan during the last 2 months (September 1 to November 8).
The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (commonly known as meningococcus) that infects the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can also be due to other bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as viruses, such as enteroviruses and various herpesviruses. N. meningitidis is, however, the only organism that can result in meningitis epidemics.
Epidemic alarm was raised during the last week of October. Cerebral spinal fluid samples of many cases have tested positive for N. meningitidis serogroup A. An investigation has been launched by the Sudan Ministry of Health with support from the WHO’s Early Warning and Response Network and the US CDC. Approximately 294,000 people in the affected areas are under enhanced surveillance and are the target of vaccination campaigns.
Source: The WHO (www.who.int).