Descriptive analysis of cases of Influenza A (H1N1) reported during the pandemic of 2009 in the Health Region V of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Abstract

From the sustained transmission of influenza virus A (H1N1) in different countries, the World Health Organization declared the beginning of the first influenza pandemic of the twentyfirst century on June 11, 2009. In Argentina, the Health Region V of the Province of Buenos Aires was one of the first affected across the country. OBJECTIVE: to conduct a descriptive analysis of notifications of cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in that region until September 20, 2009. METHODS: we worked with secondary sources. The confirmation of cases (real-time PCR) was carried out in authorized institutions. Variables considered: suspected cases, confirmed and diseased, sex, age, municipalities, epidemiological history, pregnant, date of onset of symptoms and viral movement by epidemiological week. RESULTS: there were 1.332 notifications of suspected cases and 949 confirmed. The highest number of confirmed cases was in the municipalities of Gral. San Martin (94), San Isidro (90), Pilar (85) and Vicente López (80). The epidemiological weeks 23, 24 and 25 showed the highest number of confirmed cases. Given the age group, which contributed more confirmed cases was that of 5-9 years (121), followed by 1-4 (89) and 10-14 (75). The median age was 30 years. There were 64 confirmed cases dead. The highest rate of cause-specific mortality by age group accounted for less than one year. There were nine confirmed cases in pregnant and puerperal women, five of them died. CONCLUSION: all municipalities had confirmed cases and 11 confirmed deaths reported. The peak of the epidemic one week ahead of the national and the median age was lower than the registered for the rest of the country. The analysis of mortality showed a higher risk for men, pregnant women and children under one year.