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. 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
  3. [Analysis of genetic features of influenza B virus in Hunan province from 2007 to 2010]
    Liu YZ, Zhao X, Huang YW, Chen Z, Li FC, Gao LD, et al.
    Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi, 2012 Mar;46(3):258-63.
    PMID: 22800599
    To investigate the gene variations of influenza B virus isolated in Hunan province from 2007 to 2010.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  4. Fulltext Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic virus: learning from the first wave, preparing for the second
    Lee CK
    Med J Malaysia, 2010 Mar;65(1):1-2.
    PMID: 21265237
    In a short period of two months, the novel influenza A/H1N1 virus has circumnavigated the entire planet leaving behind in its wake approximately 3000 reported deaths worldwide. Fortunately, in many areas around the world, September 2009 brought a lull in the number of new H1N1 infections. This brought welcomed relief in many countries that had earlier experienced high respiratory disease activity in their communities. However, based on previous influenza pandemics, this reprieve may well be short-lived. As the Northern hemisphere approaches its winter months, many experts are now predicting a second wave of influenza A/H1N1 infections. This prediction maybe well placed as all 3 influenza pandemics in the last century reported second or even subsequent waves of new infections, all of which appeared to be more severe than the primary event (ref). The timing of these second waves have varied from 6 months to 3 years and invariably seemed to be linked to the winter months. It is unclear precisely what changes caused the increased severity seen during the second waves; one possibility is the progressive adaptation of the novel influenza virus to its new human host . Molecular analysis, for example, suggests that the 1918 Spanish influenza virus that emerged during the second wave had undergone changes in the hemagglutinin binding site that increased the binding specificity for human receptors. This is thought to have increased the replicative capacity and hence, the pathogenicity of the virus. It is also evident that as the H1N1 2009 pandemic virus continues to spread, opportunities for adaptation that increases virulence will also increase. Nonetheless, the changes needed for such adaptation and for increased virulence are unpredictable and by no means inevitable
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  5. 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
  6. 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*
  7. Introduction: Avian influenza: from basic biology to pandemic planning
    Loh LC, Hui DS, Beasley R
    Respirology, 2008 Mar;13 Suppl 1:S1.
    PMID: 18366520 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2008.01245.x
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  8. Influenza as an issue on the agenda of health care workers: what can we do? What do we need?
    Vaccine, 2006 Nov 10;24(44-46):6791-2.
    PMID: 17167887
    ESWI recommends that the 25 European Union nations strive to vaccinate one-third of their collective population every year by 2010. This translates into an annual vaccine usage of 150 million doses for a population of 455 million. However, the current vaccine usage in Europe is 79 million doses, meaning that only 40% of ESWI's recommended target population is being vaccinated in the EU-25. Indeed, the EU's current risk groups equal about 28% of its population, but it is estimated that less than 62% are being vaccinated with the current vaccine supply--the equivalent of 17% of the total population. Clearly, as ESWI noted in its concluding position paper at the Malta conference, "a large proportion of those traditionally assumed to be at most risk from influenza are not being vaccinated." How to change this and minimize the consequences of a pandemic? "It's very interesting how the arithmetic works, given the goal of immunizing 75 percent of Europe's high-risk group, " said Dr K.Nichol of the University of Minnesota Medical Center who chaired the session. "If you go from a trivalent vaccine to a monovalent one, then you triple the number of doses you can manufacture. Thus, you could produce enough doses for the entire population of the EU." However, there is no coordinated approach in Europe, meaning such an optimistic scenario is unlikely in the medium-term. For the time being, emphasis must be on raising public awareness and raising vaccination rates at the local level, starting with health care workers themselves. Here the role and attitude of health policy officials and--critically--health care workers are crucial. These front-line policy and healthcare professionals constitute both the problem and the solution to a more effective influenza vaccine effort in Europe: they know first-hand the institutional obstacles blocking progress--i.e., lack of resources, poorly focused public information campaigns, etc.--but their own work practices and attitudes can be misdirected, too. To identify the issues and help the participants produce a set of recommendations, ESWI brought in Penny Lawson from to facilitate Dr.K. Nichol to steer this session's workshop debate. The participants were a diverse group of 35 health care workers from Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  9. [The 2006/'07 influenza season in the Netherlands and the vaccine composition for the 2007/'08 season]
    de Jong JC, Rimmelzwaan GF, Donker GA, Meijer A, Fouchier RA, Osterhaus AD
    Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd, 2007 Sep 29;151(39):2158-65.
    PMID: 17957994
    The influenza epidemic of 2006/'07 began late in the season, like the two previous influenza epidemics. In week 8 a peak of modest height was reached. As usual, the causal strains were mainly A/H3N2 viruses and to a lesser extent A/H1N1 and B viruses. A new A/H1N1 virus variant has emerged, an event that on average takes place only every 10 years. However, almost all A/H1N1 virus isolates belonged to the old variant and were similar to the vaccine virus. The A/H3N2 virus isolates appeared to deviate from the vaccine strain, but after antigenic cartographic analysis and correction for low avidity they proved also closely related to the vaccine strain. The few type B virus isolates belonged to the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage, whereas the used B vaccine virus had been chosen from the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage. The vaccine therefore will have provided almost optimal protection against the circulating influenza A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 viruses but not against the influenza B viruses. For the 2007/'08 influenza season the World Health Organization has recommended the following vaccine composition: A/Solomon Islands/3/06 (H1N1) (new), A/Wisconsin/67/05 (H3N2), and B/Malaysia/2506/04.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  10. Outbreak news. Avian influenza--spread of the virus to new countries
    Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec., 2006 Feb 24;81(8):69-70.
    PMID: 16671220
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  11. Fulltext Pandemic threat of avian influenza
    Chua KB
    Med J Malaysia, 2005 Oct;60(4):401-3.
    PMID: 16570698
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  12. Knowledge, attitudes and practices on influenza a (H1N1) among Kelantanese schoolchildren
    Wan-Arfah N, Norsa'adah B, Naing NN, Zaliha I, Azriani AR, Nik-Rosmawati NH, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2012 Nov;43(6):1489-501.
    PMID: 23413714
    Assessment of schoolchildren's knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards influenza A (H1N1) is crucial as schools play a major role in spreading the infection. The aims of this study were to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on influenza A (H1N1) and the factors associated with practices of preventive behavior.A cross sectional study was conducted from July until December 2010. Two public secondary schools for two districts in Kelantan, Malaysia were randomly selected. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of five constructs: sociodemographic, risk factors of containing influenza A (H1N1) infection, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The questionnaire had been te,sted for its construct validity and reliability. General linear regression was applied in the data analysis. A sample of 436 secondary school students were recruited in this study involved Malay students aged 16 years old. The total knowledge, attitudes and practices scores for the overall respondents were 69.4, 82.2, and 73.8%, respectively. The significant influencing factors for the practices of preventive behavior were attended talk on H1N1 and attitudes score.This study suggested that health education is important for promoting the health of adolescents and contributing to the overall health of the public so that they will take precautions against the H1N1 infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  13. Fulltext Influenza vaccination guidelines and vaccine sales in southeast Asia: 2008-2011
    Gupta V, Dawood FS, Muangchana C, Lan PT, Xeuatvongsa A, Sovann L, et al.
    PLoS One, 2012;7(12):e52842.
    PMID: 23285200 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052842
    Southeast Asia is a region with great potential for the emergence of a pandemic influenza virus. Global efforts to improve influenza surveillance in this region have documented the burden and seasonality of influenza viruses and have informed influenza prevention strategies, but little information exists about influenza vaccination guidelines and vaccine sales.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  14. Fulltext Mapping pneumonia research: A systematic analysis of UK investments and published outputs 1997-2013
    Head MG, Fitchett JR, Newell ML, Scott JA, Harris JN, Clarke SC, et al.
    EBioMedicine, 2015 Sep;2(9):1193-9.
    PMID: 26501117 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.06.024
    BACKGROUND: The burden of pneumonia continues to be substantial, particularly among the poorest in global society. We describe here the trends for UK pneumonia R&D investment and published outputs, and correlate with 2013 global mortality.

    METHODS: Data related to awards to UK institutions for pneumonia research from 1997 to 2013 were systematically sourced and categorised by disease area and type of science. Investment was compared to mortality figures in 2010 and 2013 for pneumonia, tuberculosis and influenza. Investment was also compared to publication data.

    RESULTS: Of all infectious disease research between 2011 and 2013 (£917.0 million), £28.8 million (3.1%) was for pneumonia. This was an absolute and proportionate increase from previous time periods. Translational pneumonia research (33.3%) received increased funding compared with 1997-2010 where funding was almost entirely preclinical (87.5%, here 30.9%), but high-burden areas such as paediatrics, elderly care and antimicrobial resistance received little investment. Annual investment remains volatile; publication temporal trends show a consistent increase. When comparing investment to global burden with a novel 'investment by mortality observed' metric, tuberculosis (£48.36) and influenza (£484.21) receive relatively more funding than pneumonia (£43.08), despite investment for pneumonia greatly increasing in 2013 compared to 2010 (£7.39). Limitations include a lack of private sector data and the need for careful interpretation of the comparisons with burden, plus categorisation is subjective.

    CONCLUSIONS: There has been a welcome increase for pneumonia funding awarded to UK institutions in 2011-2013 compared with 1997-2010, along with increases for more translational research. Published outputs relating to pneumonia rose steadily from 1997 to 2013. Investment relative to mortality for pneumonia has increased, but it remains low compared to other respiratory infections and clear inequities remain. Analyses that measure investments in pneumonia can provide an insight into funding trends and research gaps.

    RESEARCH IN CONTEXT: Pneumonia continues to be a high-burden illness around the globe. This paper shows that although research funding is increasing in the UK (between 1997 and 2013), it remains poorly funded compared to other important respiratory infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza. Publications about pneumonia have been steadily increasing over time, indicating continuing academic and clinical interest in the topic. Though global mortality of pneumonia is declining, it should still be an area of high priority for funders, policymakers and researchers.

    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  15. Fulltext The prevalence and preventive measures of the respiratory illness among Malaysian pilgrims in 2013 Hajj season
    Hashim S, Ayub ZN, Mohamed Z, Hasan H, Harun A, Ismail N, et al.
    J Travel Med, 2016 Feb;23(2):tav019.
    PMID: 26858268 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tav019
    BACKGROUND: Respiratory illness continues to exert a burden on hajj pilgrims in Makkah. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of respiratory illness and its associated factors among Malaysian hajj pilgrims in 2013 and to describe its preventive measures.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Makkah and Malaysia during the 2013 hajj season. A self-administered proforma on social demographics, previous experience of hajj or umrah, smoking habits, co-morbid illness and practices of preventive measures against respiratory illness were obtained.

    RESULTS: A total of 468 proforma were analysed. The prevalence of the respiratory illness was 93.4% with a subset of 78.2% fulfilled the criteria for influenza-like illness (ILI). Most of them (77.8%) had a respiratory illness of <2 weeks duration. Approximately 61.8% were administered antibiotics but only 2.1% of them had been hospitalized. Most of them acquired the infection after a brief stay at Arafat (81.2%). Vaccination coverages for influenza virus and pneumococcal disease were quite high, 65.2% and 59.4%, respectively. For other preventive measures practices, only 31.8% of them practiced good hand hygiene, ∼82.9% of pilgrims used surgical face masks, N95 face masks, dry towels, wet towels or veils as their face masks. Nearly one-half of the respondents (44.4%) took vitamins as their food supplement. Malaysian hajj pilgrims with previous experience of hajj (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.10-0.56) or umrah (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07-0.52) and those who have practiced good hand hygiene (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.16-0.79) were found to be significantly associated with lower risk of having respiratory illness. Otherwise, pilgrims who had contact with those with respiratory illness (OR 2.61; 95% CI 1.12-6.09) was associated with higher risk.

    CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of respiratory illness remains high among Malaysian hajj pilgrims despite having some practices of preventive measures. All preventive measures which include hand hygiene, wearing face masks and influenza vaccination must be practiced together as bundle of care to reduce respiratory illness effectively.

    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
  16. 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
  17. Diarrhoeal problems in Southeast Asia
    Sunoto
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1982 Sep;13(3):306-18.
    PMID: 7163834
    Diarrhoea up till now is still a major problem in Southeast Asia with high morbidity and mortality, particularly among children under 5 years of age, with the peak in children between 6 - 24 months. In Indonesia, in 1981, it was estimated that there are 60 million episodes with 300,000 - 500,000 deaths. In the Philippines, diarrhoea ranks as a second cause of morbidity (600 per 100,000 in 1974) and second cause of infant mortality (5 per 1,000 in 1974). In Thailand, in 1980, the morbidity rate was 524 per 100,000 and the mortality rate 14 per 100,000. In Malaysia, in 1976, diarrhoea was still ranking number 5 (3.1%) as a cause of total admission and number 9 (2.2%) as a cause of total deaths. In Singapore, diarrhoea still ranks number 3 as a cause of deaths (4% of total deaths). In Bangladesh, the overall attack rates imply a prevalence of 2.0% for the entire population, with the highest for under 5 groups i.e. 4.1%. The diarrhoea episode in rural population is 85.4%, 39% of them are children under 5. The most common enteropathogens found in all countries are rotavirus followed by Enterotoxigenic E. coli, Vibrio spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Campylobacter. Malnutrition and decline of giving breast-feeding play an important role in causing high morbidity, besides socio-economic, socio-cultural and poor environmental sanitation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology
  18. 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*
  19. 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*
  20. Influenza viruses circulating in Thailand in 2004 and 2005
    Waicharoen S, Thawatsupha P, Chittaganpitch M, Maneewong P, Thanadachakul T, Sawanpanyalert P
    Jpn J Infect Dis, 2008 Jul;61(4):321-3.
    PMID: 18653981
    Determining the local circulating strain of influenza is essential to prevent and control epidemics. In the years 2004 and 2005, the National Influenza Center of Thailand received 3,854 and 3,834 specimens, respectively, from patients throughout the country, including submissions from 4 established influenza surveillance sentinel sites. In 2004, of 539 influenza-positive specimens, 461 were positive for influenza A and 78 were positive for influenza B by isolation. Influenza A subtyping revealed that 249, 197, and 15 isolates were H1N1, H3N2, and H5N1, respectively. In 2005, of 748 influenza-positive specimens, 492 were influenza A and the remaining 256 were influenza B. The results of influenza A subtyping indicated that 55, 437, and 5 isolates were H1N1, H3N2, and H5N1. All isolated strains of subtype H1N1 were A/New Caledonia/20/99-like. The isolated strains of H3N2 were A/Fujian/411/2002-like in the first half of the year 2004, while those in the latter half of 2004 gradually drifted to a mixture of A/Wellington/1/2004-like, A/California/7/2004-like, and A/Wisconsin/67/2005-like, and this mixture continued through the end of 2005. The influenza B strains were B/Sichuan/379/99-like, B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like, B/Shanghai/361/2002-like and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like. The strains circulating in the years 2004 and 2005 were antigenically similar to the vaccine formulas recommended in the same period by WHO. Our results underscore that local influenza surveillance plays an important role in responding to epidemics and potential pandemics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/epidemiology*
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