Assessment of human health vulnerability to climate variability and change in Cuba.

In this study we assessed the potential effects of climate variability and change on population health in Cuba. We describe the climate of Cuba as well as the patterns of climate-sensitive diseases of primary concern, particularly dengue fever. Analyses of the associations between climatic anomalies and disease patterns highlight current vulnerability to climate variability. We describe current adaptations, including the application of climate predictions to prevent disease outbreaks. Finally, we present the potential economic costs associated with future impacts due to climate change. The tools used in this study can be useful in the development of appropriate and effective adaptation options to address the increased climate variability associated with climate change.

Infección/inmunidad por el virus de la hepatitis B en una población adulta de Ciudad de La Habana. Cuba 1995 / Infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in an adult population of Havana City. Cuba 1995

The results of a study of markers of infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in a community of the health area in "Cristobal Labra" polyclinics, City of Habana in 1995. The studied healthy adult population was not included in any vaccination strategy with hepatitis B vaccine. Two markers were studied: Hepatitis B surface antigen and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBs). HBsAg-positivity was 1.05% and anti-HBs positivity was 13.39%. Of anti-HBs-positive cases, 13.39% had titers from 10-50 UI/L and the rest (43.68%) had titers over 50 UI/L.

Inmunogenicidad de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB a las dosis de 10.5 y 2.5 micrograms en niños escolares de 6 a 9 años de edad / Immunogenicity of the Heberbiovac-HB vaccine in doses of 10.5 and 2.5 micrograms in 6-9-year-old students

The Heberbiovac-HB recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was administered at dosages of 10.5 and 2.5 micrograms in 3 groups of children aged 6-9 with a vaccination schedule at 0, 1 and 6 months of age. The immunogenecity attained between dosages was compared. The seroconversion with protective titres obtained at 2 months varied from 88.9 with 10 micrograms to 79.4 with 2.5 micrograms, whereas at 7 months it was higher than 98 in the 3 groups. The geometrical mean with 10 mg was 136.63 and 2,356.8 UI/L-1; with 5 micrograms, 77.62 and 1,958.9 UI/L-1; and with 2.5 micrograms, 32.15 and 376.3 UI/UL-1, at 2 and 7 months, respectively. A high immunogenic power of the vaccine is observed at dosages of 10 and 5 micrograms with similar results. In spite of the fact that the dosage of 2.5 micrograms is immunogenic, the response is not desirable. These results state the possibility of using a lower dosage (5 micrograms) for a low risk infantile population, which favors the cost-benefit.