Virology & Mycology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0517
+44 1223 790975
ISSN: 2161-0517
+44 1223 790975
Belsy Acosta Herrera, Pinon A, Arencibia A, Valdes O, Mune M, Savon C, Oropesa S, Gonzalez G, Gonzalez B G, Hernandez B, Roque R, Borroto S, Llanes M J and Marrero A
Institute Pedro Kouri, Cuba
Ministry of Cuban Public Health, Cuba
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Virol-mycol
Influenza, the most contagious of the acute respiratory infections is considered like an emergent and re-emergent illness due to the wide circulation of old and new variants among the world population. Vaccination is currently the only practical means of reducing or counteracting this burden of mortality and morbidity in the community. The production of an optimal influenza vaccine requires the continuous global monitoring of influenza by the National Influenza Centre. The Cuban National Influenza Center has the responsibility to carry out the national virological surveillance of influenza and others respiratory viruses. During the past 10 years, it had been working together with national health authorities on the planning, implementation and improvement of the national surveillance program of acute respiratory infections. From, 2009 to 2014, 38935 respiratory samples from patient with clinical diagnosis of acute respiratory infection were processed using an algorithm of molecular diagnosis. The total of positive samples to influenza viruses were characterized molecularly; including the nucleic acid sequencing. The mayor positivity was detected for influenza A virus, particularly for the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, following influenza B viruses. In 2012, we detected the reintroduction of influenza B lineage Yamagata associated with a high rate of morbidity. Most characterized influenza A viruses matched with the vaccine strains with the exception of the circulating viruses during the season 2013-2014. These results suggest a low preventive effect of the seasonal influenza vaccine for the season 2014-2015. This situation should be kept in mind given its implications for clinical practice and public health.
Belsy Acosta Herrera has graduated as General Physician in 1993. She has started her Residence in Microbiology at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kouri (IPK). Her current position at the IPK is Medical Doctor, Specialist in Microbiology in the field of Virology. She has also participated in many meeting, courses and training in different countries and participated in more than 40 national and international congresses with the presentation of more than 70 papers and conferences related to viral respiratory infections. She has published more than 40 papers as author or co-author and obtained 8 Scientific Awards nominated by the Cuban Academy of Sciences.