Domestic influenza vaccine production in Mexico: a state-owned and a multinational company working together for public health.

The Mexican Government developed a plan in 2004 for pandemic influenza preparedness that included local production of influenza vaccine. To achieve this, an agreement was concluded between Birmex - a state-owned vaccine manufacturer - and sanofi pasteur, a leading developer of vaccine technology. Under this agreement, sanofi pasteur will establish a facility in Mexico to produce antigen for up to 30 million doses of egg-based seasonal vaccine per year, and Birmex will build a facility to formulate, fill and package the inactivated split-virion influenza vaccine. As at November 2010, the sanofi pasteur facility has been completed and the Birmex plant is under construction. Most of the critical equipment has been purchased and is in the process of validation. In addition to intensive support from sanofi pasteur for the transfer of the technology, the project is supported by the Mexican Ministry of Health, complemented by Birmex's own budget and grants from the WHO developing country influenza technology transfer project.

Las enfermedades de transmisión sexual y la epidemia de VIH/SIDA / Sexually transmitted diseases and the AIDS epidemic in Mexico

Se refieren las actividades llevadas a cabo en el campo de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) durante los últimos años. Las fuentes de información fueron: a) Encuestas en mujeres dedicadas a la prostitución. A partir de 1990 se han estudiado 1 386 mujeres en cuatro estados de la República Mexicana mediante cuestionario estructurado y exámenes de laboratorio. La prevalencia de las diferentes ETS han sido considerables para sífilis (VDRL, FTA-abs), 23.7 por ciento; clamidiasis (Ag IF), 12.9 por ciento; gonorrea (Ag, ELISA), 11.5 por ciento; anti-HBS, 11.0 por ciento; herpes 1, 2 (IgM), 9.3 por ciento; HBSAg, 5.7 por ciento; sin embargo, ha sido baja para VIH(ELISA, Western blot), 0.5 por ciento. En 1994 se estudiaron en la Ciudad de México 662 mujeres con técnicas de laboratorio diferentes para clamidiasis y gonorrea (cultivo), hepatitis B (anticuerpo anticore) y herpes (anticuepos totales) con los resultados siguientes; sífilis 1.5 a 12 por ciento, clamidiasis 10.8 a 11.7 por ciento, gonorrea 0 a 5.9 por ciento, hepatitis B 0 a 7.1 por ciento, herpes 44.7 a 78 por ciento y VIH 0 a 1.4 por ciento. b) Encuesta en hombres con práctica homosexuales y bisexuales. Con la metodología mencionada se han estudiado 325 sujetos en tres estados. A diferencia de los resultados en mujeres, la prevalencia de VIH ha sido alta (18.8 por ciento), y significativa para el resto de las ETS: anti HBSAg 5.0 por ciento; clamidiasis (Ag, IF) 4.3 por ciento; herpes simplex 1 y 2 (Ag, IF) 4.7 por ciento; gonorrea (Ag, ELISA) 2.8 por ciento. c) Estudios clínicos de pacientes. Se ha estudiado la interrelación clínica entre las diferentes ETS y la infección por VIH, en particular se describen las diferencias clínicas de pacientes infectados por VIH con condilomatosis o sífilis en comparación con los no coinfectados. Se discuten las implicaciones de la interrelación entre las diferentes ETS y la infección por VIH en la prevención y control de este tipo de enfermedades

Studies on sexually transmitted diseases (STD) during the previous years in Mexico are discussed. The information sources were: a) Surveys among commercial sex workers. Since 1990, 1386 women have been studied in four federal states through structured questionnaires and laboratory tests. Prevalence of different STD's has been significant (syphilis (VDRL, FTA-abs) 23.7%; chlamydiasis (Ag IF) 12.9%; gonorrhea (Ag, ELISA) 11.5%; anti-Hss 11.0%; herpes 1,2 (IgM) 9.3%, HBsAg 5.7%. Frequency of HIV (ELISA, Western blot) has been low; 0.5%. In 1994, 662 women were studied in Mexico City, with different laboratory techniques for chlamydiasis and gonorrhea (culture), hepatitis B (anticore antibodies) and herpes (total antibodies) with the following results: syphilis 1.5-12%; chlamydiasis 10.8-11.7%; gonorrhea 0-5.9%, hepatitis B 0-7.1%; herpes 44.7-78%; and HIV 0-1.4%. b) Surveys among men with homosexual and bisexual practices. 325 subjects have been studied in three federal states using methods similar to those of the 1990 survey. Contrasting with results among women, HIV prevalence was found to be high; (18.8%), and considerable for other STD s: anti-HBsAg 28.6%, syphilis 34.9%, recent herpes 10.9%, HBsAg 5.0%, chlamydiasis (Ag, IF) 4.3%, herpes simplex 1, 2 (Ag, IF) 4.7%, gonorrhea (Ag, ELISA) 2.8%. c) Patient clinical studies. The clinical interrelationship between different STD and HIV infection has been studied: clinical differences are described between patients with condylomata or syphilis depending on HIV serostatus. Implications of the interrelationship between different STD s and HIV infection for the prevention and control of these diseases are discussed.