Rapid assessment of Hib disease burden in Vietnam

Abstract

Abstract Background Several countries have applied the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) rapid assessment tool (RAT) to estimate the burden of Hib disease where resources for hospital- or population-based surveillance are limited. In Vietnam, we used the Hib RAT to estimate the burden of Hib pneumonia and meningitis prior to Hib vaccine introduction. Methods Laboratory, hospitalization and mortality data were collected for the period January 2004 through December 2005 from five representative hospitals. Based on the WHO Hib RAT protocol, standardized MS Excel spreadsheets were completed to generate meningitis and pneumonia case and death figures. Results We found 35 to 77 Hib meningitis deaths and 441 to 957 Hib pneumonia deaths among children Conclusions In Hanoi, the estimated incidence of Hib meningitis for children

Keywords

• Hib
• vaccine
• RAT
• disease burden