Publications by authors named "Abeysinghe M"

Background: The performance of live attenuated Japanese Encephalitis SA 14-14-2 vaccine (CD-JEV) among children previously given inactivated mouse brain-derived JE vaccine (IMBV) is unknown. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of CD-JEV administered to 2- and 5-year-old children in Sri Lanka.

Methods: In this open-label, single arm trial in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka, generally healthy children 2 and 5years of age who had previously received two and three doses of IMBV, respectively, were administered one dose of CD-JEV subcutaneously.

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Purpose: The lack of evidence on the disease burden has been an obstacle for decision-making on introducing pneumococcal vaccines in Sri-Lanka. Hence, the purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease among children under five-years of age in Sri-Lanka's Colombo district.

Methods: In a community-based study, using a sample of 2310 children, we identified syndromes associated with pneumococcal disease (pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis).

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Introduction: To facilitate introduction of live attenuated SA 14-14-2 Japanese encephalitis vaccine (LJEV) into the National Immunization Programme of Sri Lanka, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of co-administration of LJEV and measles vaccine at 9 months of age. Serum immune responses were evaluated post-vaccination on days 28, 180, and 365 using JE neutralization test and anti-measles IgG ELISA.

Results: 278 infants received one dose of LJEV and measles vaccine.

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Introduction of human immunization reduced Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases dramatically in Sri Lanka. However, the increased reporting of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) affected vaccine acceptance by the community. Against this background, we describe the incidence of overall AEFI and incidence and profile of AEFI, thought to be causally related to the mouse-brain derived JE vaccine.

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The number of cases and severity of disease associated with dengue infection in Sri Lanka has been increasing since 1989, when the first epidemic of dengue hemorrhagic fever was recorded. We identified a new dengue virus 1 strain circulating in Sri Lanka that coincided with the 2009 dengue epidemic.

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The ecology of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in different agro-climatological areas of Sri Lanka was studied in relation to the abundance of mosquito vectors, infection in domestic livestock, and human infection and disease. There was an inverse correlation between altitude and the abundance of potential JE vectors, as well as JE seroprevalence in domestic livestock and in man. Little or no JE infection was documented above 1200 m elevation.

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