Associations between seasonal influenza and meteorological parameters in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Seasonal influenza affects a considerable proportion of the global population each year. We assessed the association between subnational influenza activity and temperature, specific humidity and rainfall in three Central America countries, i.e.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of deaths associated with influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 in Central America and Dominican Republic 2009-2010.

Background: The demographic characteristics of pandemic influenza decedents among middle and low-income tropical countries are poorly understood. We explored the demographics of persons who died with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 infection during 2009-2010, in seven countries in the American tropics.

Methods: We used hospital-based surveillance to identify laboratory-confirmed influenza deaths in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic.

Planning and implementation of an infection control training program for healthcare providers in Latin America.

Objective: The lack of well-trained, dedicated infection control personnel prevents optimal control of nosocomial infections in Latin American pediatric oncology centers. We collaboratively planned and implemented a multinational training course in San Salvador, El Salvador, to address this need.

Methods: The course relied on its organizers' experience in training international healthcare providers, the availability of the International Training Center for Nurses, previous infection control collaboration with the Hospital Nacional de Ninos Benjamin Bloom, and resources available at the University of El Salvador.