News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – A new analysis of influenza outbreak patterns in several navies in 1918 suggests that the first and second waves of the pandemic were caused by "antigenically distinct" viruses, a conclusion that runs counter to some other recent studies that have tried to discern why the second wave was so much more deadly than the first.

(CIDRAP News) – Although antiviral drugs were used to treat many seriously sick people during the H1N1 influenza pandemic, experts at a conference today said they could have been used more widely and that some opportunities to learn from their use were missed.

(CIDRAP News) – A report from Hong Kong says that the use of blood plasma donated by recovered H1N1 influenza patients reduced the death rate in severely ill H1N1 patients.

(CIDRAP News) – A team of US researchers reported this week that a set of antibodies derived from 2009 H1N1 influenza patients showed an ability to react with a number of other flu strains, strengthening hopes that it will eventually be possible to create a broadly protective flu vaccine.

(CIDRAP News) – A standard dose of H1N1 influenza vaccine appears to work well in people who have asthma, but older patients with severe asthma may need a higher dose, a government-sponsored trial has shown.

(CIDRAP News) – With most Americans already possessing some degree of immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus, the history of pandemics suggests that it's not very likely to make a big comeback anytime soon, according to three experts at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).