Smallpox revaccination of 21000 first responders in Israel: lessons learned.

Objectives: Between July 2002 and April 2003, over 21000 individuals were revaccinated against smallpox by the Israeli Ministry of Health. The objectives of the campaign were to create an immunized core of first responders, to review vaccination techniques, and to produce vaccinia immune globulin (VIG).

Methods: The Lister strain of vaccinia virus was used at a concentration of approximately 10(7) pock-forming units (PFU)/ml, and was administered by the multiple-puncture technique.

European seroepidemiology network 2: Standardisation of assays for seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus.

Background: The aim of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) is to harmonise the serological surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe.

Objective: To allow comparison of antibody prevalence in different countries by standardising results into common units.

Study Design: For varicella zoster virus (VZV), a reference laboratory established a panel of 148 samples, characterised by indirect enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence, and complement fixation test.

Laboratory assessment and diagnosis of congenital viral infections: Rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), parvovirus B19 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Viral infections during pregnancy may cause fetal or neonatal damage. Clinical intervention, which is required for certain viral infections, relies on laboratory tests performed during pregnancy and at the neonatal stage. This review describes traditional and advanced laboratory approaches and testing methods used for assessment of the six most significant viral infections during pregnancy: rubella virus (RV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), parvovirus B19 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Determination of immunity to vaccinia virus by using diluted inactivated vaccinia vaccine solution for skin testing.

Aims: We evaluated the usefulness of skin test prepared by inactivation of vaccinia vaccine in predicting immunity to vaccinia. Skin test was injected to 77 healthy adults. Twenty had a recent smallpox vaccination (group 1).

Presence of viremia in patients with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis.

Background: Presence of viremia during primary herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections has been previously investigated, but the findings for immunocompetent individuals have only rarely been reported.

Methods: With use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we evaluated blood samples obtained from children with primary herpes simplex virus (HSV) gingivostomatitis for viremia.

Results: There were 16 girls and 16 boys, aged 9-44 months (median age, 19 months).

A sero-epidemiological study of herpes virus type 1 and 2 infection in Israel.

In order to obtain data on the prevalence and incidence of herpes virus type 2 (HSV(2)) infection in selected populations of women and to identify groups that might benefit from routine prenatal screening, an epidemiological study was conducted during the period 1984-1990, which showed HSV(2) seroprevalence to be 2.8%. Due to the worldwide increase of over 30% of HSV(2) infection in the past two decades, a second study was performed during the period 1 January 1998-31 December 1999.