Apr 15, 2010
Study: Primary care reports accurately show flu spread
Researchers in Singapore established a network of primary care clinics that submitted daily forms about their cases of influenza-like illness (ILI), defined as acute respiratory illness with a fever of 100ºF or more. They started tracking in June 2009 and determined that primary-care ILI reports accurately showed the progress of the H1N1 pandemic, including its peak. They conclude that such a simple tool may be particularly useful for tracking flu waves in developing countries.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010036
Apr 14 PLoS ONE study
Severe H1N1 cases may put kidneys at risk
Patients severely ill with pandemic H1N1 infections can have kidney injury or failure, though usually the conditions are reversible, Canadian researchers reported yesterday at a National Kidney Foundation (NKF) meeting in Orlando. In a study of critically ill patients from seven Manitoba hospitals, two-thirds had the conditions, and those with kidney failure were 11 times more likely to die. They said the findings are a reminder to avoid dehydration and substances that could hurt kidneys.
http://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/nr/H1N1Patients.cfm
Apr 14 NKF press release
Technique could streamline testing for flu exposure
Mexican researchers have developed a virus-free ELISA method to detect exposure to the pandemic H1N1 virus, according to a Public Library of Science ONE (PLoS ONE) study. The immunoassay is based on a recombinant fraction of hemagglutinin of the virus expressed in Escherichia coli. They write that the technique could better help determine a population's disease burden, especially when lab supplies are limited, and help gauge virus exposure when vaccine supplies are scarce.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010176
Apr 14 PLoS ONE study
