H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Hospitalizations strongly linked to chronic conditions

(CIDRAP News) – Racial minority groups have been more heavily impacted by pandemic H1N1 flu hospitalizations, with severe illness during the fall wave hitting American Indian and Alaska Native populations especially hard, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday in an update.

(CIDRAP News) – Some of the nation's emergency departments are noting increases in flu-like illness cases that appear to be pandemic H1N1, and colleges are reporting the first increase in flu-like illness since the end of November, but it's not clear if these are early signs of a third pandemic flu wave.

WHO gains scientists' support for H1N1 response

(CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization's (WHO's) emergency committee of experts yesterday recommended holding at the current pandemic alert level based on evidence of new community spread of the virus in West Africa and the possibility of a second wave of illnesses as the Southern Hemisphere enters its winter months.

(CIDRAP News) – In the wake of the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) today took the long-discussed step of recommending seasonal flu immunizations for nearly everyone, leaving out only small babies.

(CIDRAP News) – At least 63 million Americans, 21% of the population, may have been infected by pandemic H1N1 influenza, Pittsburgh researchers estimate—creating enough population-wide immunity to potentially explain the lack of a third wave of H1N1 so far.

Feb 22, 2010

(CIDRAP News) – Human seasonal flu strains that reassort with avian H5 influenza can produce a more pathogenic avian flu strain, highlighting the importance of virus genetic surveillance and the need to protect people who have close contact with birds, researchers reported today.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) vaccines committee voted today to follow the World Health Organization's advice and fold the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine into the seasonal flu vaccine for next season.