title: [Contribution of the National Influenza Laboratory to confront the 2009 pandemic influenza in Cuba].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute respiratory infections are considered the most important causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. These infections became more significant when associated to epidemics and pandemic events caused by influenza virus. The need for global surveillance of influenza viruses was recognized as early as 1947 and led to the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN). The Cuban National Influenza Centre (NIC) belongs to this network since 1975. On April 2009, the recognition of a new influenza A (H1N1) of swine origin circulating in humans was identified as the causative agent of the first pandemic in the 21st century declared by the WHO.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to carry out surveillance of the new pandemic virus nationwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cuban National Influenza Center developed a diagnostic diagram to confirm infection with the pandemic virus in suspected cases. Different PCR assays for typing and subtyping of influenza A virus were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From April to December 2009, 6 900 clinical respiratory samples were processed by using this diagram, 980 cases were confirmed and notified to the national health authorities and to the Pan American Health Organization. Human rhinoviruses were other important etiologic agents of the frequently detected acute respiratory infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the national strategy for surveillance at lab, it was possible to effectively monitor the circulation of the influenza viruses and of other respiratory viruses in our country and to alert the national health authorities, with a view to facing up to the pandemic influenza (2009).
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Virus Influenza, Departamento de Virología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kouri" (IPK), La Habana, Cuba. betsy@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Belsy
authors: B
authors: Acosta Herrera
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Piñón Ramos
authors: Odalys
authors: O
authors: Valdés Ramírez
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Savón Valdés
authors: María Guadalupe
authors: MG
authors: Guzmán Tirado
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Llop Hernández
authors: Amely
authors: A
authors: Arencibia García
authors: Elias
authors: E
authors: Guilarte García
authors: Grehete
authors: G
authors: González Muñoz
authors: Guelsys
authors: G
authors: González Báez
authors: Suset
authors: S
authors: Oropesa Fernández
authors: Bárbara
authors: B
authors: Hernández Espinosa
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Goyenechea Hernández
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Kourí Cardellá
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Morier Díaz
authors: María Josefa
authors: MJ
authors: Llanes Cordero
authors: Nilvia
authors: N
authors: Herrada Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007753:Laboratories; D058873:Pandemics