[Severe acute respiratory infection in Cuban patients during the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in Cuba, 2009].

Introduction: On April 2009, the Mexican health authorities reported increased hospitalization indexes caused by pneumonia with high mortality rates to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). The National Epidemiological Surveillance System of Mexico noticed that this increase mainly occurred in the 20-40 year old population. A new type of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus was identified by laboratory studies as the etiological agent of the first pandemic of the 21st century.

[Cuban strategy for the molecular characterization of the pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1)].

Introduction: In April 2009, there was identified a variant of the A/H1N1 influenza virus of swine origin, and shortly after the first pandemic in XXI century was declared.

Objectives: To establish a nucleotide sequencing strategy for the differential diagnosis of the seasonal and pandemic influenza A viruses, and to obtain as much molecular information as possible about hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes in patients with influenza-like illnesses, in those with severe respiratory infection and in patients who died.

Methods: Three sequencing strategies were designed and implemented, which also offered important information about the new virus in Cuba.