engleski

Influenza in Croatia

Croatian National Influenza Centre was established in 1949 in the framework of Zagreb University Medical School and Croatian National Institute of Public Health as a World Influenza Centre collaborating unit. The work of the National Influenza Centre in Zagreb covers: - Laboratory (serological, virological) testing of patients with clinical symptoms of influenza and other respiratory infections - Patient morbidity, age group and mortality reports - Studies of antigenic characteristics of isolated influenza virus strains - Testing the immunogenicity of current influenza vaccines in certain seasons - Exchange of information and materials with the Reference Centre for Influenza in London and WHO Headquarters in Geneva. The first influenza isolation in Croatia took place in 1950. From 1953 on, the results of immunobiological studies have been compared with the weekly report data. Based on this information, we can establish the intensity of an epidemic and its peak. Whereas until 1977 we had only one type of virus each year, we have since been isolating at least two annually. We introduced cell culture (MDCK) in our diagnostics in 1992, rapid diagnosis (monoclonal antibody) methods in 1995, linking our Centre to the Internet in 1998 for quick weekly reports and statistical evaluation of our results. In 2003, we started building a maximum protection (biolevel III) laboratory. Every year we send our isolates to the European Reference Centre for Influenza in London for identity confirmation. All these years our influneza virus isolates resembled those from other European countries.

Influenza

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