Browsing by Author "Sow, S."
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Item Delayed 2009 pandemic influenza a virus subtype H1N1 circulation in West Africa, May 2009-April 2010(Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2012-12) Ampofo, W.; Nzussouo, N.T.; Michalove, J.; Diop, O.M.; Njouom, R.; Monteiro, M.D.L.; Adje, H.K.; Manoncourt, S.; Amankwa, J.; Koivogui, L.; Sow, S.; Elkory, M.B.; Collard, J.-M.; Dalhatu, I.; Coker, B.To understand 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A[H1N1]pdm09) circulation in West Africa, we collected influenza surveillance data from ministries of health and influenza laboratories in 10 countries, including Cameroon, from 4 May 2009 through 3 April 2010. A total of 10 203 respiratory specimens were tested, of which 25% were positive for influenza virus. Until the end of December 2009, only 14% of all detected strains were A(H1N1)pdm09, but the frequency increased to 89% from January through 3 April 2010. Five West African countries did not report their first A(H1N1)pdm09 case until 6 months after the emergence of the pandemic in North America, in April 2009. The time from first detection of A(H1N1)pdm09 in a country to the time of A(H1N1)pdm09 predominance varied from 0 to 37 weeks. Seven countries did not report A(H1N1)pdm09 predominance until 2010. Introduction and transmission of A(H1N1)pdm09 were delayed in this region. © 2012 The Author.Item Rotavirus vaccine efficacy in African and Asian countries Reply(The Lancet, 2010-12) Breiman, R.F.; Armah, G.; Zaman, K.; Sow, S.; Anh, D.D.; Ciarlet, M.; Neuzil, K.M.The pentavalent rotavirus vaccine offers an opportunity to affect child health positively, particularly in regions of the world with high diarrhoea morbidity and mortality. Although our study focused on the prevention of severe gastroenteritis, we agree with Stephen Obaro that the vaccine might be effective against less common outcomes, including mortality. In fact, such an effect has been shown in postmarketing studies, most notably in Mexico, where introduction of a rotavirus vaccine into the national immunisation programme correlated with a significant reduction in all-cause diarrhoea mortality.1 Our studies used a passive “catchment” design to identify cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis, and, as Obaro suggests, health-care use did interfere with optimum case ascertainment. Indeed, in the Mali site, gastroenteritis episodes were managed largely by traditional healers during the first year of the study, resulting in very few cases identified and a limited capacity to contribute to vaccine efficacy calculations. When this problem was identified and addressed at the end of the first rotavirus season, the number of cases identified increased substantially.