RESUMEN
West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in Louisiana during August of 2001. An outbreak of 204 human cases of neuro-invasive disease (NID) and 25 deaths occurred in 2002. In the 2 years following, lower numbers of human cases were identified (101 NID cases in 2003 and 84 in 2004) but intense localized foci were observed. The incidence of NID has been particularly high in the elderly (65 years and older). The distribution of West Nile cases has consisted of sporadic cases with a few very intense foci. Annually, human cases have occurred from June through December, with a peak number of new cases in August. As compared with other WNV serosurveys conducted in the United States, it appears that the WNV seroprevalence in Louisiana is not elevated.
Asunto(s)
Fiebre del Nilo Occidental/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Louisiana/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Vigilancia de la Población , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Tasa de SupervivenciaRESUMEN
Estimating a prevalence of 1.8% of hepatitis C in the general population, there are in Louisiana about 81,000 individuals who have been infected with the hepatitis C virus. In 2002, the incidence of reported cases of acute hepatitis C was 2.2/100,000 versus 0.64 in the USA. The case register maintained by the Louisiana Office of Public Health has 22,000 cases. Building up a register of hepatitis C past or present infections is an important tool that may be used to resolve some important questions about the epidemiology of hepatitis C or be used for future preventive actions. Physicians and hospitals are encouraged to report hepatitis C infection including sufficient information to distinguish acute hepatitis C from hepatitis C past or present infection.
Asunto(s)
Hepacivirus/aislamiento & purificación , Hepatitis C/diagnóstico , Hepatitis C/epidemiología , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Hepatitis C Crónica/diagnóstico , Hepatitis C Crónica/epidemiología , Humanos , Incidencia , Pruebas de Función Hepática , Louisiana/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Pronóstico , Sistema de Registros , Medición de Riesgo , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Distribución por Sexo , Tasa de SupervivenciaRESUMEN
In 2002, 329 cases of West Nile illness were reported in Louisiana, including 204 cases of West Nile meningoencephalitis and 125 cases of West Nile fever. Clinical presentation of meningoencephalitis or of West Nile fever was confirmed serologically. There were 24 deaths. Age group distribution showed predominance among persons aged 45 years or older. The epidemic curve, based on date of diagnosis, showed numerous foci progressing in successive waves. The first cases occurred in mid-June. A peak was reached by the first week of August, after which the epidemic progressively subsided.