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Hib can be difficult to treat in the developing world and the prospects for infected children in developing countries are several times worse than those in industrialized countries. Invasive disease can be treated with antibiotics but lack of access to adequate medical facilities and increasing levels of antibiotic resistance lead to a high mortality rate:
Hib bacteria normally establish themselves in the nose or upper throat (nasopharynx). It is spread through sneezing, coughing, or speaking closely with an infected person. Children often carry the Hib bacteria without showing any signs or symptoms, but they still can infect others. WHO estimates that up to 15% of children in countries without Hib vaccination programmes may be carriers. Not breastfeeding, household crowding and day-care attendance are all risk factors for infection. Fortunately, Hib is preventable. There is a highly safe and effective vaccine routinely used in the industrialized world for over 15 years. More than 100 countries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and many countries in Western Europe routinely use Hib vaccines in childhood immunization programmes and have documented virtual elimination of disease. In 2006, only 26% of children worldwide received Hib vaccine. Despite recommendations from WHO that Hib vaccine be included in all countries’ routine infant immunization programmes, most developing countries have not adopted the vaccine. In fact, just over 1/3 of the countries eligible for funding from the GAVI Alliance (i.e., GNI/capita <$1000 per year) are using Hib vaccines. Hib vaccine has been introduced in only a minority of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite evidence of substantial Hib disease burden. Even fewer countries in Asia have introduced Hib vaccine. Clinical trials and national programmes in Chile, The Gambia, Kenya, and South Africahave shown a dramatic reduction in disease due to vaccination, similar to the United States and other industrialized countries. There are a number of barriers to vaccine introduction in these regions, including limited awareness and communication about Hib disease, uncertainty about Hib disease burden, and concerns about the financial and programmatic impacts of Hib vaccine introduction. The Hib vaccine is recommended, proven highly effective and funding for resource constrained countries is available, three quarters of the world’s children remain at risk. More must be done to protect children from this deadly killer now.
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Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterium which causes serious disease often life-threatening, illnesses in young children. Hib can cause meningitis and severe pneumonia, leading to an estimated 3 million cases of serious illness and 400,000 deaths each year in children under 5 years of age