[Detection of a hepatitis A outbreak in Ceuta (Spain) through a microbiological surveillance system]. / Detección de un brote de hepatitis A en Ceuta a través del sistema de información microbiológica.

BACKGROUND: The Public Health Department of Ceuta informed the Spanish National Epidemiology Center of an increase in hepatitis A cases detected by the microbiological surveillance system. We conducted a study to confirm the outbreak and to initiate control measures. METHODS: A descriptive study and a case-control study were performed. A standardized telephone questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, symptoms, and risk factors. RESULTS: Nineteen cases of hepatitis A were identified. Univariate analysis revealed an association between infection and eating raw vegetables (OR = 9.3; 95%CI: 1.5-57.6) or razor-shell (OR = 55; 95%CI: 4.3-703.4). In the logistic regression model, only razor-shell consumption remained a significant risk factor (OR = 36.1; 95%CI: 2.45-530.4). None of the 3 inspected restaurants had public health authorization or records of food purchase histories. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed a hepatitis A outbreak associated with consumption of contaminated razor-shell in homes and restaurants. The microbiological surveillance system was the main means of detecting this outbreak.

[Huntington's Disease in Balearic Islands Population-Based Registry of Rare Diseases: Prevalence and Mortality during the Period 2010-2013. Spain]. / Prevalencia y mortalidad de la Enfermedad de Huntington a partir del registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares durante el período 2010-2013.

OBJECTIVE: Huntington's disease is a hereditary disease with low prevalence. The low frequency of Huntington's disease leads to its inclusion as one of the pathologies in the Registry of Rare Diseases. The Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases began in 2010. Previously, there had been no prevalence or mortality data for Huntington's disease in the Balearic Islands. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and mortality of Huntington's disease in the Balearic Islands between 2010 and 2013. METHODS: The data sources were the Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases, from which the diagnosed cases were obtained; the Balearic Islands Mortality Register, from which the deceased cases were obtained; the Balearic Islands Health Service, from which the number of Health Cards was obtained; and the National Institute for Statistics, from which population data were obtained. Prevalence and mortality rates were calculated. RESULTS: The Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases registered 27 cases of Huntington's disease between 2010-2013. 63% of these were women. The period prevalence rate was 2.6 per 100,000 and the period mortality rate was 1.1 per 100,000. Menorca was the island with the highest rates, the prevalence rate was 5,9 per 100,000 and the mortality rate was 2,1 per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and mortality of Huntington's disease in the Balearic Islands are low compared to similar areas.

OBJETIVO: La enfermedad de Huntington (EH) es una enfermedad hereditaria de baja prevalencia, por lo que se incluye en los registros de enfermedades raras. El registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares se inició en el año 2010. Previamente no existían datos de prevalencia y mortalidad de la EH en las Islas Baleares. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia y la mortalidad de la enfermedad de Huntington en las Islas Baleares durante el periodo 2010-2013. METODOS: Se utilizaron como fuentes de información el registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares, del que se obtuvieron los casos diagnosticados, el Registro de mortalidad de las Islas Baleares, del que se obtuvieron los casos fallecidos, el registro del Servicio de Salud de las Islas Baleares del que se obtuvieron el número de tarjetas sanitarias y del Instituto Nacional de Estadística se obtuvieron los datos de población. Se calcularon las tasas de prevalencia y de mortalidad. RESULTADOS: El registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares durante el periodo 2010-2013 registró 27 casos de EH. El 63% fueron mujeres. La tasa de prevalencia fue de 2,6 por 105 y la tasa de mortalidad de 1,1 por 105. La isla de Menorca fue la más afectada con una prevalencia de 5,9 por 105 y una mortalidad de 2,1 por 105. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia y mortalidad de la EH en las Islas Baleares son bajas en comparación con zonas del entorno.

[The Spanish Epidemological Surveillance Services webpages as an information dissemination tool in 2006]. / Las páginas web de los servicios de vigilancia epidemiológica como instrumento de difusión de la información en 2006.

BACKGROUND: Taking into account that one of the Spanish National Epidemological Surveillance Network's missions is that of providing information for taking action, it is then absolutely essential that its information be disseminated in a timely manner. This study is aimed at ascertaining what information is being published on the National Epidemology Center webpages and on those of the Municipal and Autonomous Community Epidemiological Surveillance Services and assessing the timeliness of the information published. METHODS: A review was conducted of the contents of the Surveillance Services webpages of April 3 - May 5, 2006. The information was considered to be "timely" if the information read on the webpage during Week 17 provided the epidemological week 15 bulletin. RESULTS: A total of ninety percent (90%) of the Services have a webpage, fifty percent (50%) of which provide the listing of the compulsorily reportable disease and the case definition, a total of 44% having protocols for taking action and 11% having dynamic tables. The epidemological bulletins can be accessed via eight-three percent (83%) of the pages, six percent of which are updated in a timely manner. A total of seventy-seven (77%) of the pages provide weekly influenza information, seventy-eight percent (78%) in week 15. A total seventy-two percent (72%) have a search system as well as links to other Surveillance Services. CONCLUSIONS: The information provided by the Epidemological Surveillance Services has been found to vary to a certain degree. Influenza information is being disseminated in a timely manner, this however not being the case for the Epidemiological Bulletin.