Were equatorial regions less affected by the 2009 influenza pandemic? The Brazilian experience.

ABSTRACT: Although it is in the Tropics where nearly half of the world population lives and infectious disease burden is highest, little is known about the impact of influenza pandemics in this area. We investigated the mortality impact of the 2009 influenza pandemic relative to mortality rates from various outcomes in pre-pandemic years throughout a wide range of latitudes encompassing the entire tropical, and part of the subtropical, zone of the Southern Hemisphere (+5(°)N to -35(°)S) by focusing on a country with relatively uniform health care, disease surveillance, immunization and mitigation policies: Brazil. To this end, we analyzed laboratory-confirmed deaths and vital statistics mortality beyond pre-pandemic levels for each Brazilian state. Pneumonia, influenza and respiratory mortality were

SUBMITTER: Schuck-Paim C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3411570 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature