Sentinel physician's network in Reunion Island: a tool for infectious diseases surveillance.

Unlabelled: The surveillance of infectious diseases in Reunion Island is based on a sentinel network of family physicians (FPs) coordinated by the Indian Ocean regional institute for public health surveillance (French acronym OI Cire). The objectives are to identify and monitor outbreaks of influenza, gastroenteritis, and chicken pox, and to characterize circulating influenza viruses. The network can monitor other potentially epidemic diseases.

A review of the dynamics and severity of the pandemic A(H1N1) influenza virus on Réunion island, 2009.

On Reunion Island, in response to the threat of emergence of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus, we implemented enhanced influenza surveillance from May 2009 onwards in order to detect the introduction of pandemic H1N1 influenza and to monitor its spread and impact on public health. The first 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus was identified in Réunion on July 5, 2009, in a traveller returning from Australia; seasonal influenza B virus activity had already been detected. By the end of July, a sustained community pandemic virus transmission had been established.

Preliminary analysis of the pandemic H1N1 influenza on Reunion Island (Indian Ocean): surveillance trends (July to mid-September 2009).

First infections with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus were identified on Reunion Island in July 2009. By the end of July, sustained community transmission of the virus was established. Pandemic H1N1 influenza activity peaked during week 35 (24 to 30 August), five weeks after the beginning of the epidemic and has been declining since week 36.

A major epidemic of chikungunya virus infection on Reunion Island, France, 2005-2006.

In January 2005, an epidemic of chikungunya fever broke out in the Comoro Islands and lasted until May 2005. In April, cases were also reported in Mayotte and Mauritius. On Réunion Island, the first cases were reported at the end of April.

Male infertility risk factors in a French military population.

We investigated infertility risk factors by conducting a population-based case-control study in the military population of the French town of Brest. Sixty couples who had sought medical advice for infertility of more than 12 months duration (cases) were compared with 165 couples who had had a child (controls). All the men in these couples had been employed by the military.

Risk factors for extrauterine pregnancy in women using an intrauterine device.

Objective: To identify the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy (EP) in women using an intrauterine device (IUD).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Auvergne region (France).

[Esophageal pH-metry. Evaluation of prescriptions at the Robert-Debré Hospital (Paris)].

Objectives: To record orders for esophageal pH-metry at the Robert-Debré hospital in Paris and to assess the quality and pertinence on the order.

Methods: A prospective survey of all children who underwent pH-metry during the month of February 1996 was conducted. There were 11 children included in the study.