News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – A large-scale study suggests that antiviral treatment saved many lives during Mexico's 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic but also points to an irony: that the use of antivirals dropped sharply in the fall wave of cases.

(CIDRAP News) – Researchers who took a detailed look at 2009 H1N1 deaths in Mexico, where the virus was first detected, found that the new flu virus was more deadly than most seasonal flu epidemics and more lethal than in other countries, which confirms impressions early in the pandemic that the disease was worse in Mexico.

(CIDRAP News) – Delegates from 193 countries met today in Geneva at the start of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which will address several infectious disease topics, including a report from an independent pandemic review committee, a virus-sharing agreement, and the fate of the world's remaining smallpox virus stocks.

(CIDRAP News) – Two federal officials who frequently appeared on television as top sources during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic provided a rare glimpse behind the curtain at some of the event's pivotal moments today during a panel discussion at an infectious disease conference in Washington, DC.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today published a detailed look at the early field and epidemiologic studies it used to guide its response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, such as spread among household contacts, disease severity, and the impact on high-risk groups.

(CIDRAP News) – During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, when colleges faced unique challenges, a group of large US universities found that preparedness paid off and that students were able to play a key role in response efforts, according to a new report.