Fernando Galván

Initial human transmission dynamics of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in North America.

Background  Between 5 and 25 April 2009, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 caused a substantial, severe outbreak in Mexico, and subsequently developed into the first global pandemic in 41 years. We determined the reproduction number of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by analyzing the dynamics of the complete case series in Mexico City during this early period.

Drug use and risk of HIV/AIDS on the Mexico-USA border: a comparison of treatment admissions in both countries

This study analyzes trends in treatment admissions and summarizes HIV/AIDS risk factors along the US-Mexican border. Data are presented at the national level and at the state level for states along the border. Client data also are compared for treatment programs located in sister cities on the Texas-Mexico border. These data show that methamphetamine admissions are increasing nationally and methamphetamine use is a major problem in the western states on both sides of the border. Use of Ice (smoked methamphetamine) has increased significantly. Use of crack (smoked cocaine) is a growing problem on the border, and injection is the primary route for using black tar heroin in this area. Each of these drugs is a risk factor, either from drug-influenced risky sexual behaviors or from sharing injection equipment. In addition, the availability of drugs on the border and patterns of risky behaviors among migrants mean that drug users on the border are at risk of HIV/AIDS, and this risk is expected to increase with the spreading methamphetamine epidemic and smoking of crack cocaine. Comparable data on HIV/AIDS are needed for further studies of the relationship of drug use and HIV/AIDS on the border.

Mortalidad en México por influenza y neumonía (1990-2005)

Objective. To estimate the impact of influenza vaccine in infants less than two years of age and in elders more than sixty-five years of age, through the analysis of mortality due to influenza and pneumonia in Mexico, between 1990 and 2005. To determine the seasonal pattern of mortality, the tendency of mortality by volume of deaths per seasonal period, and the speed rate of mortality. Material and methods. Data were taken from the Epidemiological and Statistical Mortality System (SEED-SSA per its abbreviation in Spanish). Results and conclusions. The analysis showed there is a tendency of deaths decrease at a rate of 509 deaths less per year in the infants group and 29 deaths less in the elders group. Also, the ascending tendency of mortality was interrupted by vaccination. The vaccination intervention has a positive economic effect and also helps improve the quality of life. Therefore, its implementation is expected to lower hospital admissions and deaths.

Varicela y herpes zóster: retos para la salud pública

Resumen: Objetivo: Evaluar el comportamiento epidemiologico de la varicela y el herpes zoster (HZ) para determinar politicas de salud y disminuir prevalencia y complicaciones. Material y metodos: La frecuencia de casos se estimo con datos del Sistema Unico de Informacion para la Vigilancia Epidemiologica (SUIVE), periodo 2000-2013; para los egresos hospitalarios de varicela y HZ, se utilizaron datos del Sistema Nacional de Informacion en Salud (Sinais). Resultados: El promedio de casos de varicela anual fue 296 733, 57% menores de 9 anos, la mayoria de marzo a mayo; de 2004 a 2012 los egresos hospitalarios de varicela fueron 17 398, de ellos 4.6% presento meningoecefalitis, 2.5% neumonia y 18% otras complicaciones. Por herpes zoster 7 042 egresos, mas afectados de 65 anos o mas, 1.3:1 la relacion mujer:hombre. Las complicaciones: neuralgia (11%), afeccion ocular (7%), meningoencefalitis (5.4%), enfermedad diseminada (2.8%) y otras (5.4%); estancia hospitalaria entre 6.4 a 13.3 dias. Conclusiones: Los datos coinciden con los de la literatura de otros paises. Se discute el papel de la vacunacion en la prevencion de la infeccion en ninos y adultos.