ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: After the introduction of a vaccine against B. pertussis the seasonal pattern with the highest number of infections in the spring to summer months changed. Recent studies from around the world suggest that B. pertussis infections again follow a seasonal pattern with increased incidence in summer.The aim of this study was to investigate whether respiratory infections caused by B. pertussis in the period from January 2008 to December 2018 also seasonally spread in Germany and if so, when the B. pertussis activity peaked. METHODS: We tested 19,031 samples, mainly from Southern Germany, collected in the period from January 2008 to December 2018 using a Multiplex PCR assay. We assessed the number and proportion of samples positive for B. pertussis, stratified by patient's age and month. The seasonal distribution was investigated by plotting the average proportion of positive samples for each month. RESULTS: We observed a B. pertussis seasonality with the highest number of positive samples in the months from June until September. In contrast, testing of samples for B. pertussis was requested most frequently in the period from October until March. The proportion of positive samples increased earlier in adolescents (age 10 to 19) than in other age groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found a seasonality of B. pertussis infections in Germany, which differs from the time when most samples are sent in for testing of B. pertussis. Our study suggests that clinicians should be more aware of B. pertussis infections in the months from June until September to prevent further transmission to vulnerable family members.
Subject(s)
Bordetella pertussis/genetics , Seasons , Whooping Cough/diagnosis , Whooping Cough/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Bordetella pertussis/immunology , Child , Child, Preschool , Family , Female , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Male , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Pertussis Vaccine/immunology , Pertussis Vaccine/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , Whooping Cough/prevention & control , Whooping Cough/transmission , Young AdultSubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/diagnostic imaging , Myelitis, Transverse/diagnostic imaging , Myelitis, Transverse/etiology , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnostic imaging , Acute Disease , Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myelitis, Transverse/drug therapy , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
To investigate 2,017 cases of hantavirus disease in Germany, we compared 38 new patient-derived Puumala virus RNA sequences identified in 2010 with bank vole-derived small segment RNA sequences. The epidemic process was driven by outbreaks of 6 Puumala virus clades comprising strains of human and vole origin. Each clade corresponded to a different outbreak region.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/epidemiology , Puumala virus/genetics , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Phylogeny , Puumala virus/classification , RNA, ViralABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The objectives of this trial were to test for noninferiority of a virosomal hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine (Epaxal) coadministered with routine childhood vaccines compared with Epaxal given alone and to an alum-adjuvanted HAV vaccine (Havrix Junior) coadministered with routine childhood vaccines. METHODS: Healthy children 12- to 15-month-old were randomized to receive either a pediatric dose (0.25 mL) of Epaxal coadministered with DTPaHibIPV, oral polio vaccine, and measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (n = 109; group A), or Epaxal given alone (n = 105; group B), or Havrix Junior coadministered with DTPaHibIPV, oral polio vaccine, and measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (n = 108; group C). A booster dose was given 6 months later. Anti-HAV antibodies were tested before and 1 month after each vaccination. Safety was assessed for 1 month after each vaccination. Solicited adverse events were assessed for 4 days after each vaccination. RESULTS: : HAV seroprotection rates (> or =20 mIU/mL) at 1 and 6 months after first dose were: A: 94.2% and 87.5%, B: 92.6% and 80.0%, C: 78.2% and 71.3%, respectively (A versus C: P < 0.001 and P = 0.017 at month 1 and 6, respectively). The respective geometric mean concentrations were: A: 51 and 64 mIU/mL, B: 49 and 59 mIU/mL, C: 33 and 37 mIU/mL (A versus C: P < 0.001 at both time points). All groups achieved 100% seroprotection after the booster dose. The geometric mean concentrations after the booster dose were 1758, 1662, and 1414, for groups A, B and C, respectively (A versus C: P = 0.15). No clinically significant reduction in immune response to all concomitant vaccine antigens was seen. All vaccines were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: : Coadministration of pediatric Epaxal with routine childhood vaccines showed immunogenicity and safety equal to Epaxal alone as well as to Havrix Junior. After first dose, Epaxal was significantly more immunogenic than Havrix Junior.
Subject(s)
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/administration & dosage , Hepatitis A Vaccines/administration & dosage , Hepatitis A Vaccines/immunology , Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine/administration & dosage , Poliovirus Vaccines/administration & dosage , Vaccines, Virosome/administration & dosage , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Hepatitis A/prevention & control , Hepatitis A Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis A Vaccines/adverse effects , Hepatitis A Virus, Human/drug effects , Hepatitis A Virus, Human/immunology , Humans , Immunization Schedule , Infant , Israel , Male , Vaccines, Virosome/adverse effectsABSTRACT
We report the case of a 9-year-old girl in Germany with acute meningoencephalitis associated with rotavirus gastrointestinal infection. Sequence analysis revealed a genetic relationship of the strain to rotaviruses with subgroup II specificity. Reverse transcription-PCR was positive for rotavirus.