[Administrative control of vaccination coverage in the Czech Republic by December 31, 2009]. / Výsledky administrativní kontroly proockovanosti v Ceské republice k datu 31. 12. 2009.

In line with the objectives of the World Health Organization programme "Health for all in the 21st century", administrative vaccination coverage estimate is done annually in children in the Czech Republic, based on the uniform criteria set by the Chief Public Health Officer. In 2009, the vaccination coverage by December 31, 2009 against nine selected infectious diseases included in the routine childhood immunization schedule in accordance with the Czech legislation was assessed in children whose family name starts with the letter R. The results confirmed that the vaccination coverage in the cohorts of children checked achieves levels suitable for inducing herd immunity against the selected infectious diseases.

[Imported viral hepatitis in the Czech Republic]. / Importované virové hepatitidy v Ceské republice.

OBJECTIVE: Through the analysis of notified viral hepatitis, trends in the occurrence of imported cases in the Czech Republic have been specified, the aim of which was to draw attention to the epidemiologically important aspects of travelling abroad. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the software environment of Epi Info version 6.04d, nationwide databases of communicable diseases over the period of 1993-2005 were analysed. The period was defined with respect to the availability of necessary data in the Epidat information system for communicable disease reporting in the Czech Republic. RESULTS: During the years 1993-2005, 12,091 cases of communicable diseases were imported into the Czech Republic of which viral hepatitis accounted for 5.7 % (685). The rates by diagnosis were as follows: viral hepatitis A 61 %, acute viral hepatitis B 15 %, chronic viral hepatitis C 11 %, viral hepatitis E 5 %, acute viral hepatitis C 3 %, chronic viral hepatitis B 3 % and other cases of viral hepatitis 2 %. The rates by the "imported by" variable: Czech tourists 47.2 %, foreigners 32.8 %, Czech business travellers 20.0 %. The diseases were most commonly imported from the following countries: Ukraine 13 %, Slovakia 8 %, Southern Europe 6 %, Egypt 6 % and Russia 5 %. CONCLUSION: In the Czech Republic, communicable diseases are reported using the Epidat system. The Epidat database analysis focused on reported cases of imported viral hepatitis represents an important starting point for assessing health risks associated with travelling abroad.

[Notified cases of imported transmisssible infections in the Czech Republic]. / Notifikované importované prenosné nákazy v Ceské republice.

OBJECTIVES: Based on analysis of epidemiological characteristics, to determine trends in the incidence of imported transmissible diseases in the Czech Republic and to draw attention to the epidemiological significance of international tourism and migration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In cooperation with the National Reference Centre for Epidemiological Data Analysis, National Institute of Public Health Prague, the nationwide Epidat information system databases from 1993 to 2005 were analyzed using software Epi Info version 6.04d. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2005, altogether 12,091 cases of transmissible diseases were imported into the Czech Republic from 168 countries in the world. The notified annual incidence of imported infections ranges from 206 to 1,714 cases. The highest percentage of cases was imported by Czech tourists (50.7 %) while 40 % of the notified cases were imported into the Czech Republic by foreigners. The period 1998-2004 for which the data on Czech tourism to other countries are available is characterized by increase in the absolute number of imported cases while the relative incidence of imported cases per 100,000 population traveling to other countries shows a downward trend. The highest numbers of cases were imported from Viet Nam (1,258 cases), Slovakia (1,155 cases) and India (786 cases). When considering Czech tourism to other countries for which the corresponding data are available, the highest rates of imported diseases in 1998-2004 were linked to the travels to Tunisia (1.18 imported cases per 1,000 tours), Bulgaria (0.69 per 1,000 tours) and Turkey (0.65 per 1,000 tours). The leading diagnosis of imported cases was salmonellosis (22%), followed by campylobacteriosis (10%) and trichuriasis (8%). CONCLUSION: Analysis of the Epidat information system databases for reporting transmissible diseases enables assessment of trends in imported infections in the Czech Republic as a point of departure for estimation of health risk from tourism and migration.

[Mumps--a reemerging infection? The current incidence of mumps in the East Bohemian region in the Czech Republic]. / Príusnice--znovu se vracející infekce? Soucasná situace ve výskytu príusnic ve východoceském regionu.

A review of mumps outbreaks among both non-vaccinated and vaccinated children and young adults in the East Bohemian region in 2003-2005 is presented. A significant increase in mumps cases was observed over this period. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed serologically by ELISA detection of IgM antibodies and/or IgG seroconversion and increased levels of IgG antibodies. A reverse transcriptase nested PCR was introduced for direct detection of mumps virus RNA from clinical specimens (nasopharyngeal secretion, saliva, CSF and serum). The isolated RNA will be stored for further analysis and mumps virus genotyping attempts, helpful in tracing the virus circulation in the East Bohemia region. Possible causes of the recent significant increase in mumps cases among the vaccinated population in the Czech Republic are discussed.

[Serological survey and vaccination against viral hepatitis A in health care providers at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Ostrava]. / Sérologický prehled a vakcinace proti virové hepatitide A u zdravotníku na infekcní klinice v Ostrave.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The health care providers of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Ostrava were screened for immunity to hepatitis A virus (HAV) in an attempt to provide vaccination against hepatitis A to non-immune persons. STUDY SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 101 health care providers of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, i.e. 10 physicians, 56 nurses and 35 nursing auxiliaries, were screened. Total anti-HAV antibodies were determined by ELISA and the subjects not reaching the protective level of anti-HAV antibodies were considered as non-immune. Vaccination against hepatitis A was recommended to all of the non-immune persons. RESULTS: Immunity to HAV was detected in 41 (41%) of 101 screened subjects. Immunity was increasing with age, being found in 8% of subjects under 40 years of age and 59 % of older subjects, in 2 (20%) physicians, 23 (41%) nurses and 16 and nursing auxiliaries. Vaccination of 58 non-immune subjects was conducted without complications. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates of total anti-HAV antibodies in health care providers of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases showed a continuing upward trend with age and were practically the same as in the community.

[Increased incidence of invasive meningococcal disease caused by C:2a:P1.2 meningococci in certain regions of the Czech Republic]. / Zvýsený výskyt invazívního meningokokového onemocnení v nekterých oblastech Ceské republiky zpusobený meningokokem C:2a:P1.2.

In the first half of 1993 an increased incidence of invasive meningococcal disease was recorded in the Czech Republic. In the CR a total of 59 cases were revealed, incl. 10 fatal ones. This high lethality (16.9%) is markedly higher than that from 036 recorded in this country during previous years. The highest incidence and death rate was recorded in the North Moravian region and in the age group from 15-19 years. Based on active surveillance of the invasive meningococcal disease by epidemiologists, microbiologists and infectiologists of the entire Czech Republic, it may be concluded that the sulphonamide sensitive strain Neisseria meningitidis C:2a:P1.2 caused in the North Moravian region a local epidemic of invasive meningococcal disease in the army and civilian population. In other regions of the CR the epidemiological situation in the first half of 1993 did not differ from the previous period: sporadic incidence of meningococcal disease, prevalence of the serological group B, highest incidence in the youngest age groups. The meningococcus C:2a:P1.2 was not detected in the CR before 1993. This uncommon epidemiological situation was resolved by immunization, aimed from the antigenic aspect and with regard to age and locality.