TITLE:
An Epidemiological Study on Influenza A(H1N1) in Makkah
AUTHORS:
Nezar H. Khdary, Muhammed A. Alalem, Abdulhafiz M. Turkistan, Saad S. Alghamdi
KEYWORDS:
Influenza, H1N1, Swine Flu, Makkah
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.4 No.4,
December
5,
2014
ABSTRACT: The flu pandemic is a global outbreak of a
new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, termed Pandemic H1N1/09 virus by
the World Health Organization (WHO), which was first identified in April 2009.
The disease has also been termed novel Influenza A(H1N1) and 2009 H1N1 flu by
the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is commonly known
as swine flu. The main strain of the virus has been termed A/California/07/2009
(H1N1) by scientists. This study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of
influenza A(H1N1) infections in KSA during 2009. A descriptive study was
carried out among attendants at hospitals and primary health care centers in
Makkah during 2009, irrespective of age and sex. The data were collected by
interviewing suspected persons using a pre-designed questionnaire, clinical
examination, and specific laboratory investigation. A total of 1138 subjects
were included in the study. Among the study population, 25% of the cases
between 15 and 24 years old were found positive for influenza A(H1N1) by PCR
technique. Although a significant population was affected by influenza A(H1N1)
during 2009 in Makkah, the efforts and steps taken by health authorities at all
levels―especially those in Directorate of Health Affairs of Makkah—helped to
avert the mortality associated with the H1N1 influenza among the residents
and those coming for Umrah and Hajj to Makkah by providing and timely
diagnosis.