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Puerto Rico Today
October 9, 2010
There is a new strain of influenza
H3N2 is the dominant variant of the virus this year
By Marga Par?s Arroyo / Mpares@elnuevodia.com
A new strain of influenza is circulating in the country: it is the H3N2.
Although this virus has circulated for years, this strain was isolated for the first time in Perth, Indiana in 2009.
"We here have been cases," confirmed Carmen Deseda, advises in epidemiology Department of Health.
Due to the number of people likely to be ill with this virus, the influenza vaccine this year contains three strains: H3N2, H1N1 and B.
Following the pandemic of H1N1 influenza that circulated last year strongly, vaccination recommendations changed in 2010.
Contrary to the usual warning that the vaccine is intended for adults 19 to 49, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for its acronym in English) recommend that after six months.
In Puerto Rico, the campaign of vaccination against influenza begins next week, as predicted yesterday Deseda, noting that from May unreported cases of H1N1.
Live dengue
Yesterday, we reported two additional deaths from dengue, bringing to 26 the fatalities of the virus this year.
Deseda reported, one of the two deaths was that of a woman over 40 years, while ten other fatalities are still under investigation.
As for dengue hemorrhagic fever, the CDC is investigating several cases. Until last week there were 26.
According to the latest report of the CDC, the week of 10 to 16 September were down cases of dengue 1 and dengue-2 increases.
It notes, too, a cluster of cases of dengue fever in 24 villages, mainly in the
Arecibo region.
El Nuevo D?a learned that representatives of the Pan American Health Organization are visiting the island to verify the actions taken by the government to combat the epidemic.
This week the health secretary, Lorenzo Gonz?lez, recognized that in Cuba there is no clear policy and that efforts of CDC and the federal government had been "deficient." Health in an effort, he is following up on cases of dengue by telephone.
Moreover, the CDC continues to offer workshops for physicians.