Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 79 in total

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  1. Isolation of an influenza C virus introduced into Japan by a traveler from Malaysia
    Matsuzaki Y, Sato K, Sugawara K, Takashita E, Muraki Y, Morishita T, et al.
    J Clin Microbiol, 2005 Feb;43(2):993-5.
    PMID: 15695727
    An influenza C virus was isolated from a Japanese traveler who had visited Malaysia in April 1999. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genome composition of this virus was distinct from that of any other strain isolated in Japan. The possibility that a genetically unique influenza C virus was introduced into Japan by a traveler is shown.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  2. Fulltext Mechanisms of action and efficacy of statins against influenza
    Mehrbod P, Omar AR, Hair-Bejo M, Haghani A, Ideris A
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:872370.
    PMID: 25478576 DOI: 10.1155/2014/872370
    The influenza virus (IV) is known to be a resistant virus with frequent mutations, causing severe respiratory diseases in the upper respiratory system. Public health concerns about clinical efficacy of all conventional drugs are ambiguous; therefore, finding additional therapeutic agents is critical to prevent and control influenza outbreaks. Influenza is associated with the induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Scientists have reported that anti-inflammatory drugs, with pleiotropic effects, reduce the burden of severe influenza diseases. Therefore, statins, which are cardioprotective drugs with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, may help patients suffering from influenza virus (IV). This review delineates the potential use of statins as an alternative therapy in treating influenza related illness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  3. Influenza B outbreak in female psychiatric ward of Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Mohamad Isa MF, Tan JM, Abdul Aziz MF, Leong CL
    Med J Malaysia, 2018 12;73(6):405-406.
    PMID: 30647214
    Influenza outbreaks in tropical countries are rarely reported. This article reports four cases of influenza within a psychiatric ward of a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. These were patients with severe mental illness who were involuntarily admitted and did not show the classical triad of influenza-like-illness (ILI) at the beginning. However, severe respiratory complications developed requiring intubation. Referral and cooperation with the infectious disease team was initiated to help manage the outbreak while continuing psychiatric treatment. Incidences of influenza among hospitalised psychiatric patients should be treated seriously with immediate multidisciplinary approach to prevent severe unwanted complications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  4. Neurologic manifestations and complications of pandemic influenza A H1N1 in Malaysian children: what have we learnt from the ordeal?
    Muhammad Ismail HI, Teh CM, Lee YL, National Paediatric H1N1 Study Group
    Brain Dev, 2015 Jan;37(1):120-9.
    PMID: 24746706 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2014.03.008
    In 2009, pandemic influenza A H1N1 emerged in Mexico and subsequently spread worldwide. In Malaysia, there were more than a thousand of confirmed cases among children. The general clinical characteristics of these children have been well-published. However, the description of neurologic complications is scarce.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  5. Fulltext Characteristics of children hospitalized for pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Malaysia
    Muhammad Ismail HI, Tan KK, Lee YL, Pau WS, Razali KA, Mohamed T, et al.
    Emerg Infect Dis, 2011 Apr;17(4):708-10.
    PMID: 21470467 DOI: 10.3201/eid1704.101212
    To determine effects of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 on children in the tropics, we examined characteristics of children hospitalized for this disease in Malaysia. Of 1,362 children, 51 (3.7%) died, 46 of whom were in an intensive care unit. Although disease was usually mild, ≥ 1 concurrent conditions were associated with higher death rates.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  6. Fulltext Cross cultural translation, adaptation and reliability of the Malay version of the Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS)
    Nathan AM, Zaki R, Rozario R, Dhania N, Mohd Hamirudin SN, Eg KP, et al.
    Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2015;13:139.
    PMID: 26338016 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-015-0336-z
    The Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS) is a parent-proxy questionnaire that assesses severity of acute respiratory infections in children. The aim was to (a) perform a cross-cultural adaptation and (b) prove that the Malay CARIFS is a reliable tool.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  7. Fulltext Modelling monthly influenza cases in Malaysia
    Norrulashikin MA, Yusof F, Hanafiah NHM, Norrulashikin SM
    PLoS One, 2021;16(7):e0254137.
    PMID: 34288925 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254137
    The increasing trend in the number new cases of influenza every year as reported by WHO is concerning, especially in Malaysia. To date, there is no local research under healthcare sector that implements the time series forecasting methods to predict future disease outbreak in Malaysia, specifically influenza. Addressing the problem could increase awareness of the disease and could help healthcare workers to be more prepared in preventing the widespread of the disease. This paper intends to perform a hybrid ARIMA-SVR approach in forecasting monthly influenza cases in Malaysia. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model (using Box-Jenkins method) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) model were used to capture the linear and nonlinear components in the monthly influenza cases, respectively. It was forecasted that the performance of the hybrid model would improve. The data from World Health Organization (WHO) websites consisting of weekly Influenza Serology A cases in Malaysia from the year 2006 until 2019 have been used for this study. The data were recategorized into monthly data. The findings of the study showed that the monthly influenza cases could be efficiently forecasted using three comparator models as all models outperformed the benchmark model (Naïve model). However, SVR with linear kernel produced the lowest values of RMSE and MAE for the test dataset suggesting the best performance out of the other comparators. This suggested that SVR has the potential to produce more consistent results in forecasting future values when compared with ARIMA and the ARIMA-SVR hybrid model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  8. Fulltext Epidemiological and Evolutionary Dynamics of Influenza B Viruses in Malaysia, 2012-2014
    Oong XY, Ng KT, Lam TT, Pang YK, Chan KG, Hanafi NS, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(8):e0136254.
    PMID: 26313754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136254
    Epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of influenza B Victoria and Yamagata lineages remained poorly understood in the tropical Southeast Asia region, despite causing seasonal outbreaks worldwide. From 2012-2014, nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from outpatients experiencing acute upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were screened for influenza viruses using a multiplex RT-PCR assay. Among 2,010/3,935 (51.1%) patients infected with at least one respiratory virus, 287 (14.3%) and 183 (9.1%) samples were tested positive for influenza A and B viruses, respectively. Influenza-positive cases correlate significantly with meteorological factors-total amount of rainfall, relative humidity, number of rain days, ground temperature and particulate matter (PM10). Phylogenetic reconstruction of haemagglutinin (HA) gene from 168 influenza B viruses grouped them into Yamagata Clade 3 (65, 38.7%), Yamagata Clade 2 (48, 28.6%) and Victoria Clade 1 (55, 32.7%). With neuraminidase (NA) phylogeny, 30 intra-clade (29 within Yamagata Clade 3, 1 within Victoria Clade 1) and 1 inter-clade (Yamagata Clade 2-HA/Yamagata Clade 3-NA) reassortants were identified. Study of virus temporal dynamics revealed a lineage shift from Victoria to Yamagata (2012-2013), and a clade shift from Yamagata Clade 2 to Clade 3 (2013-2014). Yamagata Clade 3 predominating in 2014 consisted of intra-clade reassortants that were closely related to a recent WHO vaccine candidate strain (B/Phuket/3073/2013), with the reassortment event occurred approximately 2 years ago based on Bayesian molecular clock estimation. Malaysian Victoria Clade 1 viruses carried H274Y substitution in the active site of neuraminidase, which confers resistance to oseltamivir. Statistical analyses on clinical and demographic data showed Yamagata-infected patients were older and more likely to experience headache while Victoria-infected patients were more likely to experience nasal congestion and sore throat. This study describes the evolution of influenza B viruses in Malaysia and highlights the importance of continuous surveillance for better vaccination policy in this region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  9. Molecular characterization of influenza viruses circulating in Northern Italy during two seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) of low influenza activity
    Pariani E, Amendola A, Zappa A, Bianchi S, Colzani D, Anselmi G, et al.
    J Med Virol, 2008 Nov;80(11):1984-91.
    PMID: 18814246 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21323
    The influenza activity and circulation of influenza viruses in Lombardy (the most populous Italian region) were observed during two consecutive seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) characterized by low influenza activity by the Italian Influenza Surveillance Network. The molecular characteristics of circulating viruses were analyzed to evaluate the introduction of new variants and emergence of vaccine-escape viruses. In both seasons, the epidemic in Lombardy was sustained almost exclusively by influenza A viruses, accounting for 80.5% and 93.6% of total detections, respectively, and the co-circulation of A/H3 viruses belonging to distinct phylogenetic groups was observed. The A/H1N1 viruses isolated during the 2005/2006 season were closely related to A/New Caledonia/20/99, while the hemagglutinin (HA) sequences of the A/H1N1 viruses from the 2006/2007 season exhibited a greater diversity. These viruses were A/Solomon Islands/3/2006-like and showed several variants. All B isolates were similar to B/Malaysia/2506/2004 belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage. Influenza B virus was the dominant virus in Europe in the 2005/2006 season and accounted for the 20% of total detections in Lombardy. Overall, the viruses studied presented heterogeneity in their HA sequences suggesting the circulation of a miscellaneous set of variants during the two seasons notwithstanding the medium-low activity of influenza. The importance of virological surveillance of influenza viruses is recognized widely and the molecular characterization of the viruses, especially in vaccinated subjects, is of particular importance to evaluate the introduction and circulation of new variants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  10. Fulltext Breastfeeding--anti-viral potential and relevance to the influenza virus pandemic
    Prameela KK
    Med J Malaysia, 2011 Jun;66(2):166-9; quiz 170.
    PMID: 22106709
    Essential nutritive and immunological ingredients abundantly present in breastmilk make it the choice infant nutrition. The uniqueness of mother's milk, in contrast to most therapeutics and immunizations, lies in its potential to adapt itself to the requirements of the infant so that timely immune defenses are tapped from its constituents by immune regulation, modulation and immune acceleration to stimulate novel substances; these render it pertinent as defense when faced with challenging organisms. While it is appreciated that immunity can be transferred from mother to infant through breastmilk following maternal influenza vaccination, the immense benefits conferred by breastfeeding per se during influenza pandemics may not be fully valued. This is substantiated by debates and ambiguities for continued breastfeeding in the face of maternal influenza infections. This article emphasises the utmost importance of breastfeeding in viral pandemics in the light of the changing immunological strategies used by viruses at different times and the urgent need for such opportune defenses. The prolific interaction of its constituents is frequently understated as enormous advantages to the suckling infant.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  11. Fulltext Nipah outbreak in North Kerala - What worked? Insights for future response and recovery based on examination of various existing frameworks
    Rahim AA, Chacko TV
    Indian J Public Health, 2019 9 26;63(3):261-264.
    PMID: 31552860 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_117_19
    Asia Pacific region has been witnessing numerous public health emergencies in recent years with the Nipah outbreak in North Kerala (2018), India, needs special mention. Threats posed and experiences gained have compelled health systems to draft frameworks nationally and internationally for preparedness, outbreak response, and recovery. Our failure to obtain comprehensive guiding frameworks for application in the Indian context for Ebola, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Influenza A (H1N1), and Nipah outbreaks led us to the search outside India for frameworks that have worked in the past. A thorough review of the WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Malaysian framework was done to identify explicit components and replicable objectives to the national context. In the absence of a specific framework, Nipah recovery and response experience that worked in Kerala outbreak (2018) was compared against novel H1N1 (2015) guidelines at national level. This article provides the groundwork and insights as a value addition toward an India-specific framework of action for response and recovery for Nipah outbreaks in future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  12. Seasonal influenza virus strains circulating in Malaysia from 2005 to 2009
    Saat Z, Abdul Rashid TR, Yusof MA, Kassim FM, Thayan R, Kuen LS, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2010 Nov;41(6):1368-73.
    PMID: 21329312
    From 2005 to 2009, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Kuala Lumpur received a total of 7,117 respiratory specimens from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) for influenza screening. Seasonal influenza virus was isolated from 17.3% of patients with ILI in 2005, 31.6% in 2006, 12.8% in 2007, 10.2% in 2008 and 13.5% in 2009. There were one or more influenza A and B virus strains circulating in Malaysia throughout the year, with distinctly a peak in May to August. The predominant circulating strains of seasonal influenza A were A/California/7/2004-like (H3N2) in 2005, A/New Caledonia/20/99-like (H1N1) in 2006, A/ Brisbane/10/2007-like (H3N2) in 2007 and 2008, and A/Perth/16/2009-like (H3N2) virus in 2009. The predominant circulating strains of influenza B were B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like in 2005, B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like in 2006, B/Florida/4/2006-like in 2007 and 2008, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like in 2009.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  13. Outbreak of A2-Hong Kong-68 influenza at an international medical conference
    Saenz AC, Assaad FA, Cockburn WC
    Lancet, 1969 Jan 11;1(7585):91-3.
    PMID: 4178014
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  14. Fulltext Influenza seasonality and vaccination timing in tropical and subtropical areas of southern and south-eastern Asia
    Saha S, Chadha M, Al Mamun A, Rahman M, Sturm-Ramirez K, Chittaganpitch M, et al.
    Bull World Health Organ, 2014 May 01;92(5):318-30.
    PMID: 24839321 DOI: 10.2471/BLT.13.124412
    OBJECTIVE: To characterize influenza seasonality and identify the best time of the year for vaccination against influenza in tropical and subtropical countries of southern and south-eastern Asia that lie north of the equator.

    METHODS: Weekly influenza surveillance data for 2006 to 2011 were obtained from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Weekly rates of influenza activity were based on the percentage of all nasopharyngeal samples collected during the year that tested positive for influenza virus or viral nucleic acid on any given week. Monthly positivity rates were then calculated to define annual peaks of influenza activity in each country and across countries.

    FINDINGS: Influenza activity peaked between June/July and October in seven countries, three of which showed a second peak in December to February. Countries closer to the equator had year-round circulation without discrete peaks. Viral types and subtypes varied from year to year but not across countries in a given year. The cumulative proportion of specimens that tested positive from June to November was > 60% in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Thus, these tropical and subtropical countries exhibited earlier influenza activity peaks than temperate climate countries north of the equator.

    CONCLUSION: Most southern and south-eastern Asian countries lying north of the equator should consider vaccinating against influenza from April to June; countries near the equator without a distinct peak in influenza activity can base vaccination timing on local factors.

    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  15. Seroprevalence of seasonal and pandemic influenza a in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2008-2010
    Sam IC, Shaw R, Chan YF, Hooi PS, Hurt AC, Barr IG
    J Med Virol, 2013 Aug;85(8):1420-5.
    PMID: 23765779 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23622
    Relatively little is known about the burden of influenza in tropical countries. The seroprevalence of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009, seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 was determined in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pre- and post-pandemic residual laboratory sera were tested by hemagglutination-inhibition. The seroprevalence of A(H1N1)pdm09 increased from 3.7% pre-pandemic to 21.9% post-pandemic, giving an overall cumulative incidence of 18.1% (95% CI, 13.8-22.5%), mainly due to increases in those <5, 5-17, and 18-29 years old. In contrast with findings from USA, Europe, and Australia, pre-existing seroprevalence to A(H1N1)pdm09 was low at 5.6% in the elderly age group of >55 years. A(H1N1)pdm09 affected almost a third of those <30 years in Kuala Lumpur. Pre-pandemic seroprevalence was 14.7% for seasonal H1N1 and 21.0% for H3N2, and these rates did not change significantly after the pandemic. Seasonal and pandemic influenza cause a considerable burden in tropical Malaysia, particularly in children and young adults.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  16. Fulltext Clinical features of Malaysian children hospitalized with community-acquired seasonal influenza
    Sam IC, Abdul-Murad A, Karunakaran R, Rampal S, Chan YF, Nathan AM, et al.
    Int J Infect Dis, 2010 Sep;14 Suppl 3:e36-40.
    PMID: 20153233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2009.10.005
    OBJECTIVES: The clinical impact of seasonal influenza is understudied in tropical countries. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and seasonal pattern of influenza in children hospitalized in Malaysia, and to identify predictors of severe disease.
    METHODS: Children hospitalized with community-acquired, laboratory-confirmed influenza at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during 2002-2007 were identified retrospectively. Clinical data were collected, and predictors of severe disease were identified by multivariate logistic regression. All influenza cases from 1982 to 2007 were also analyzed for seasonal patterns.
    RESULTS: A total of 132 children were included in the study, 48 (36.4%) of whom had underlying medical conditions. The mean age was 2.5 years and 116 (87.9%) were <5 years old. The most common presenting features were fever or history of fever, cough, rhinitis, vomiting, and pharyngitis. Severe influenza was seen in 16 patients (12.1%; nine previously healthy), including 12 (9.1%; eight previously healthy) requiring intensive care. There were three (2.3%) deaths. Severe disease was associated with age <12 months, female sex, and absence of rhinitis on admission. Influenza was seen year-round, with peaks in November-January and May-July.
    CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal influenza has a considerable impact on children hospitalized in Malaysia, in both the healthy and those with underlying medical conditions.

    Study site: University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  17. Fulltext Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in Malaysia--the next phase
    Sam IC, Abu Bakar S
    Med J Malaysia, 2009 Jun;64(2):105-7.
    PMID: 20058566
    In recent years, zoonotic RNA viruses such as Nipah, SARS coronavirus, avian influenza (H5N1) and Chikungunya have emerged with global impact. The latest has now been designated by World Health Organization (WHO) as pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. It was first reported as an outbreak in Mexico in April, and has now caused the first influenza pandemic since 1968. By July 11, 2009, there were 105,304 confirmed cases and 463 deaths in 143 countries, including 627 cases in Malaysia1 . The rapid spread of the disease has been matched by the speed of dissemination of information and protocols, co-ordinated by WHO. The experiences of SARS and H5N1 have been enormously beneficial in preparing the world for a pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  18. Fulltext Evolution of Influenza B Virus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between 1995 and 2008
    Sam IC, Su YC, Chan YF, Nor'E SS, Hassan A, Jafar FL, et al.
    J Virol, 2015 Sep;89(18):9689-92.
    PMID: 26136576 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00708-15
    Influenza B virus causes significant disease but remains understudied in tropical regions. We sequenced 72 influenza B viruses collected in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 1995 to 2008. The predominant circulating lineage (Victoria or Yamagata) changed every 1 to 3 years, and these shifts were associated with increased incidence of influenza B. We also found poor lineage matches with recommended influenza virus vaccine strains. While most influenza B virus lineages in Malaysia were short-lived, one circulated for 3 to 4 years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  19. Seasonal influenza activity based on laboratory surveillance in Malaysia, 2011-2016
    Sam IC, Noraini W, Sandhu SS, Norizah I, Selvanesan S, Thayan R, et al.
    J Med Virol, 2019 03;91(3):498-502.
    PMID: 30199092 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25313
    Influenza seasonality in equatorial countries is little understood. Seasonal and alert influenza thresholds were determined for Malaysia, using laboratory-based data obtained from the Malaysia Influenza Surveillance System and a major teaching hospital, from 2011 to 2016. Influenza was present year-round, with no clear annual seasons. Variable periods of higher transmission occurred inconsistently, in November to December, January to March, July to September, or a combination of these. These coincide with seasons in the nearby southeast Asian countries or winter seasons of the northern and southern hemispheres. Changes in the predominant circulating influenza type were only sometimes associated with increased transmission. The data can provide public health interventions such as vaccines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  20. Fulltext A review on current trends in the treatment of human infection with H7N9-avian influenza A
    Sivanandy P, Zi Xien F, Woon Kit L, Tze Wei Y, Hui En K, Chia Lynn L
    J Infect Public Health, 2018 09 10;12(2):153-158.
    PMID: 30213468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2018.08.005
    The H7N9 subtype of avian influenza is an enzootic and airborne virus which caused an influenza outbreak in China. Infected individuals mostly worked with poultry, suggesting H7N9 virus-infected poultry as the primary source of human infection. Significantly increased levels of proinflammatory mediators (chemokines, cytokines) during virus infection could hamper the immune system and aggravate the infection. Severe cases are marked by fulminant pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and encephalopathy. Left untreated, the condition may rapidly progress to multi-organ failure and death. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the gold standard diagnostic test for H7N9 avian influenza. Use of neurominidase inhibitor antivirals remain the main treatment. New antivirals are developed to counteract neurominidase inhibitor resistance H7N9 viral strains. Corticosteroid use in viral pneumonia may provoke mortality and longer viral shedding time. Subjects at high risk of contracting avian influenza H7N9 infection are recommended to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
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