AJTMH HINARI
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 81(1), 2009, pp. 180-183
Copyright © 2009 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Moura, F. E. A.
Right arrow Articles by Siqueira, M. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Moura, F. E. A.
Right arrow Articles by Siqueira, M. M.

Seasonality of Influenza in the Tropics: A Distinct Pattern in Northeastern Brazil

Fernanda E. A. Moura*, Anne C. B. Perdigão, AND Marilda M. Siqueira
Laboratório de Virologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Influenza epidemics occur worldwide annually. The incidence of influenza shows a seasonal pattern in temperate areas, but little is known about influenza seasonality in tropical regions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the seasonal pattern of influenza infections in children living in the city of Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil. An indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed on nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from children attending in ambulatories, emergency rooms, and wards of the Hospital Infantil Albert Sabin with suspicion of acute respiratory infection during 7 consecutive years (2001–2007). Influenza viruses were detected in 6.3% (234/3,708) of specimens. Laboratory-based surveillance data showed a clear annual epidemic cycle of influenza, with a peak usually occurring in the rainy periods. In Fortaleza, flu infections occurred at a low level throughout the year but exhibit a marked seasonal increase during the rainy season.

Received September 15, 2008. Accepted for publication January 29, 2009.

Financial support: This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (CNPq) Grant 620053/2004-6 and Ministry of Health of Brazil/DECIT and Secretary of Health of Ceará.

* Address correspondence to Fernanda E. A. Moura, R. Monsenhor Furtado s/n, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza-CE 60441-750, Brazil. E-mail: fernandaedna{at}terra.com.br

Authors’ addresses: Fernanda E. A. Moura and Anne C. B. Perdigão, Laboratório de Virologia do Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Rua Monsenhor Furtado SN, Rodolfo Teófilo, CEP 60441-750, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. Marilda M. Siqueira, Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, CEP 21040360, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc R Soc BHome page
G. Chowell, C. Viboud, L. Simonsen, M. Miller, and W. J. Alonso
The reproduction number of seasonal influenza epidemics in Brazil, 1996-2006
Proc R Soc B, February 11, 2010; (2010) rspb.2009.1897v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2009 by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.