Dataset Information

Improvements in pandemic preparedness in 8 Central American countries, 2008-2012.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In view of ongoing pandemic threats such as the recent human cases of novel avian influenza A(H7N9) in China, it is important that all countries continue their preparedness efforts. Since 2006, Central American countries have received donor funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build and improve their capacity for influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Our objective was to measure changes in pandemic preparedness in this region, and explore factors associated with these changes, using evaluations conducted between 2008 and 2012.

Methods

Eight Central American countries scored their pandemic preparedness across 12 capabilities in 2008, 2010 and 2012, using a standardized tool developed by CDC. Scores were calculated by country and capability and compared between evaluation years using the Student's t-test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, respectively. Virological data reported to WHO were used to assess changes in testing capacity between evaluation years. Linear regression was used to examine associations between scores, donor funding, technical assistance and WHO reporting.

Results

All countries improved their pandemic preparedness between 2008 and 2012 and seven made statistically significant gains (p?ConclusionsCentral America has made significant improvements in influenza pandemic preparedness between 2008 and 2012. U.S. donor funding and technical assistance provided to the region is likely to have contributed to the improvements we observed, although information on other sources of funding and support was unavailable to study. Gains are also likely the result of countries' response to the 2009 influenza pandemic. Further research is required to determine the degree to which pandemic improvements are sustainable.

SUBMITTER: Johnson LE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4022548 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Improvements in pandemic preparedness in 8 Central American countries, 2008-2012.

Johnson Lucinda E A LE Clará Wilfrido W Gambhir Manoj M Chacón-Fuentes Rafael R Marín-Correa Carlos C Jara Jorge J Minaya Percy P Rodríguez David D Blanco Natalia N Iihoshi Naomi N Orozco Maribel M Lange Carmen C Pérez Sergio Vinicio SV Amador Nydia N Widdowson Marc-Alain MA Moen Ann C AC Azziz-Baumgartner Eduardo E

BMC health services research 20140509

<h4>Background</h4>In view of ongoing pandemic threats such as the recent human cases of novel avian influenza A(H7N9) in China, it is important that all countries continue their preparedness efforts. Since 2006, Central American countries have received donor funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build and improve their capacity for influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Our objective was to measure changes in pandemic prepa ...[more]

PMID: 24886275

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Dataset Information

Improvements in pandemic preparedness in 8 Central American countries, 2008-2012.

Background

Methods

Results

Publications

Improvements in pandemic preparedness in 8 Central American countries, 2008-2012.

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