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).

– ATLANTA (CIDRAP News) – The vital role of preparedness, from diagnostic testing to stockpiling of antiviral medications, was one of the most important lessons from assessments of the world's response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) top flu expert told an international infectious diseases conference yesterday.