Knowledge, attitudes and practices about influenza vaccination among pregnant women and healthcare providers serving pregnant women in Managua, Nicaragua.

Background: Nicaragua implemented an influenza vaccination program for pregnant women with high-risk obstetric conditions in 2007. In 2014, the recommendation of influenza vaccination expanded to include all pregnant women. Given the expansion in the recommendation of vaccination, we evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women and their healthcare providers towards influenza vaccination and its recommendation.

Factors associated with a successful expansion of influenza vaccination among pregnant women in Nicaragua.

Background: Pregnant women are at risk of severe influenza disease and are a priority group for influenza vaccination programs. Nicaragua expanded recommendations to include influenza vaccination to all pregnant women in the municipality of Managua in 2013.

Methods: We carried out a survey among 1,807 pregnant women who delivered at public hospitals in the municipality of Managua to evaluate the uptake of influenza vaccination and factors associated with vaccination.

Molecular characterization of a rare, human-porcine reassortant rotavirus strain, G11P[6], from Ecuador.

The Pan-American Health Organization established a rotavirus pre-vaccination disease burden and strain surveillance network in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2004. During strain surveillance in Ecuador in 2005-2006, a rare rotavirus genotype, G11P[6], was detected among common strains. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of this strain identified a novel lineage of the G11 VP7 gene, most closely related to A253 (91.

Assessment of areas at increased risk for poliovirus circulation in Ecuador.

To assess areas at risk for poliovirus circulation in Ecuador, we first selected provinces at highest risk based on low immunization coverage with three doses of oral poliovirus vaccine, and a low number of reported cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). Subsequently, we reviewed discharge data for the period 1996--2000 for diagnoses compatible with AFP in the only two national referral hospitals in Quito, and at least two main hospitals in each of the six selected provinces. Environmental samples from one or two cities/towns in each selected province were tested for poliovirus.