Avian Flu Diary: World Pneumonia Day: November 12th

# 5046

Tomorrow, November 12th, is the 2nd annual World Pneumonia day where everyone is reminded that while highly treatable, childhood pneumonia claims more than 3,000 children’s lives each day around the world.

The organizers of World Pneumonia Day have five key messages that they wish to get out.

Key Messages

Pneumonia kills more children under the age of five than any other disease, claiming a young life every 20 seconds.
For every child that dies from pneumonia in the industrialized world, 2000 more die in developing countries.
Pneumonia is one of the most solvable problems in global health. We have the safe, effective and affordable tools necessary to help prevent children from contracting pneumonia, and to treat those suffering with this illness.
The fight against pneumonia can be won. Estimates indicate that more than one million children’s lives can be saved annually with widespread use of vaccines and improved access to antibiotics.
Together we can ensure that pneumonia becomes a priority on the global health agenda, and that all parties work together to invest in its prevention. Join the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia to take part in our global advocacy efforts.

Last week’s MMWR from the CDC had the following announcement regarding this yearly awareness campaign.

Announcement: World Pneumonia Day --- November 12, 2010

Weekly
November 5, 2010 / 59(43);1413
Pneumonia kills more children than any other illness; among approximately 9 million children aged <5 years who die each year worldwide, 1.6 million die from pneumonia (1). Through the Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia, the World Health Organization and international partners recommend that the global health burden of pneumonia be reduced by 1) using vaccines against organisms that cause pneumonia, 2) providing appropriate care and treatment for persons who contract pneumonia, and 3) promoting preventive measures such as exclusive breastfeeding of infants during their first 6 months of life (2).

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) account for approximately 60% of pneumonia deaths worldwide of children aged 1 month--5 years in countries that do not use pneumococcal or Hib conjugate vaccines (3,4). In the United States, pneumococcal and Hib conjugate vaccines are recommended for infants and children aged <2 years as part of the routine infant immunization schedule and have reduced morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal disease by 76% and from Hib disease by >99% among children aged <5 years (5,6). In 2010, a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was licensed and recommended in the United States. Collaborative international efforts are expanding use of these vaccines in developing countries (7).

Respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and measles, also are major causes of pneumonia globally. In 2005, an estimated 33.8 million episodes of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection occurred in children aged <5 years worldwide (8). Recent studies suggest that 6%--10% of childhood pneumonia is associated with influenza (9,10). Use of influenza and measles vaccines, antiviral medications, and supportive health care can reduce the burden of pneumonia caused by these viruses.

To raise awareness of the effects of pneumonia globally, the second annual World Pneumonia Day, November 12, 2010, is being promoted by a coalition of more than 100 major health, humanitarian relief, advocacy, faith-based, government, and other organizations; CDC and UNICEF are providing technical assistance. Events are scheduled at CDC and elsewhere in the United States and other countries. Additional information is available at http://worldpneumoniaday.org.