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J V Rullán

Publications and source records attributed to J V Rullán.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Study of an outbreak of hysteria after hepatitis B vaccination].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe an epidemic outbreak of mass hysteria among adolescents which occurred after the immunisation with vaccine against hepatitis B and to determine the association with social variables related to the students. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All the available information was evaluated and a questionnaire was designed, which included sociodemographic, clinics and school environment variables. A case-control study was conducted. The data were analyzed and outbreak rate and odds ratio with their respective CI (95%) were calculated. RESULTS: 18 cases (among a set of 74 students of seventh of EGB) were clustered in time (10.30-11 h) and space (class of seventh B). There was a clear association between the cases and the female sex (odds ratio = 5.4; CI 95% 1.3 - 23.8). As for the sociological variables there was a association with increasing household members (odds ratio = 5.3; CI 95% 1.3 - 23.4) and with lower educational levels of the father (odds ratio = 10.6; CI 95% 1.2 - 239.9). Among the affected a more unfavorable opinion of the school was detected. CONCLUSIONS: This outbreak fulfils 8 of the 11 criteria classically admitted as usual characteristics of a mass psychogenic illness episode. The sensorial transmission remains demonstrated supporting the hypothesis of a chain reaction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Successes and failures in vaccine delivery: evaluation of the immunization delivery system in Puerto Rico.

The objective of this study was to evaluate immunization delivery and determine reasons for low coverage among preschool-age public clinic attendees in Puerto Rico. In 25 randomly selected clinics, coverage and missed immunization opportunities were assessed in 273 children aged 2 to 59 months, exist interviews were conducted with parents, and providers were interviewed. Two neighborhoods close to the clinics were surveyed to determine parental knowledge about immunizations, and the vaccination status of children in these neighborhoods was assessed. Two hundred seventy-three clinic attendees were interviewed. Among 229 (84%) with vaccination cards, only 126 (55%) had received all indicated vaccines by completion of the clinic visit. Forty-five percent of children with cards in the household survey were not up-to-date. Of 171 (75%) clinic attendees eligible for vaccination at the visit, 118 (69%) missed one or more immunizations at the visit. In addition, half of all children had previously missed one or more immunizations when they had received another vaccine. Missed opportunities occurred because of nonavailability of vaccines, lack of integration of services, provider misconceptions about contraindications, and failure to administer vaccines simultaneously. Other problems included barriers to immunization services and lack of information and education activities. It is concluded that deficiencies in immunization delivery substantially delay immunization and reduce coverage.

Child↗
PubMed1987

Antibody response after a two-year intradermal booster of rabies human diploid cell vaccine.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a low dose of rabies human diploid cell vaccine administered intradermally for preexposure booster inoculation. Seventy-six volunteers received a 0.1-ml dose of rabies human diploid cell vaccine intradermally, approximately 2 years after their primary series. Though only 25 (32.9%) had a titer less than 0.5 IU/ml before the booster, all had a postbooster titer of greater than or equal to 4.0 IU/ml 3 weeks later. Five of 73 (6.8%) reported an allergic reaction after the booster.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intervention in a measles outbreak].

BACKGROUND: The description of a community measles epidemic and the activities developed to control the same is presented. Vaccination efficacy was studied by a cases and controls study. METHODS: The study period of the epidemic was from August 1994 to March 1995 and the intervention was performed from January to March 1995. The activities were developed in two phases: the first directed at a descriptive study and control of the outbreak and in the second phase a cases and controls study was designed to evaluate vaccination efficacy (VE%) versus measles. RESULTS: A total of 325 cases of measles were registered over a period of 29 weeks. The greatest attack rate was found in the age group of 5 to 9 years with 5-91 cases/100. The surveillance system and the priorization of activities protocol designed for control of the outbreak were found to be useful. The result of the cases and controls study demonstrated VE% to be 93.5% (84.3-97.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid intervention in the outbreaks of measles is considered fundamental to avoid propagation of the same among the susceptible population. The surveillance system versus the disease should therefore be optimized. Although vaccination efficacy was found to be good, the high rates of attack found in the theoretically vaccinated groups lead to the recommendation of the introduction of a second dosis of the vaccine and to vaccinate the existing non vaccinated sets.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemic outbreak of 81 cases of brucellosis following the consumption of fresh cheese without pasteurization].

BACKGROUND: In spite of the great effort that has been made in recent years in Castilla-La Mancha to control brucelosis, a lack of awareness on the part of producers and consumers leads to major epidemic outbreak, such as the one described below. METHODS: A description of the outbreak is described and a study is conducted of cases and controls to determine the factors which are responsible for the epidemic. Unadjusted and adjusted Odds Ratios (O.R.) are obtained together with their confidence intervals, for the main epidemiological factors studied. RESULTS: A total of 81 cases of brucelosis were recorded in a period of 25 weeks. All the cases occurred in the same borough or were in some way linked to it. In the case and controls study no differences were found with regard to age, sex, contact with livestock or the consumption of pasteurised milk or cheese. A strong link was established between the illness and the consumption of home-made cottage cheese prepared by a small-scale producer in the borough, (O.R. = 311.9; C.I. = 95% = 41.48-12735)., whose livestock turned out to be infected with Brucella Mellitensis. CONCLUSIONS: This outbreak showed that in Spain, there is a risk of contracting brucelosis by consuming non-pasteurised dairy products, particularly cheese, when these are not subjected to the normal sanitary and health controls. The benefits of epidemiological research in the search for cases and determining the factors responsible for the outbreak are also demonstrated. An intensification of controls, the cleansing of the herds and flocks and health education in general, are suitable instruments for controlling this zoonosis in Spain.

Adolescent↗