H1N1 Influenza Center

Use of Ribavirin to Treat Influenza

CORRESPONDENCE
Use of Ribavirin to Treat Influenza
K.M. Chan-Tack, J.S. Murray, and D.B. Birnkrant

With the current H1N1 influenza pandemic, questions have arisen regarding the potential for ribavirin as a treatment option. These authors report that the published studies are inconclusive regarding the potential clinical benefits of the drug for the treatment of influenza.

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Chest X-Ray Abnormalities Associated with H1N1 Influenza Infection

Patchy consolidation, often bilateral, was the most common finding in chest X-rays of patients with suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza. (more…)

CDC Releases 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Schedules

Children aged 6 months through 9 years should receive two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine roughly 4 weeks apart, the CDC announced in MMWR. (more…)

2009 H1N1 Influenza in a Tour Group in China

Influenza developed in 30% of tour members who had talked with an H1N1-infected woman in the group but in none who had not. READ MORE …

Neurologic Complications Observed in Children with Novel H1N1

The CDC has received reports of neurologic complications in four children in Texas hospitalized with novel influenza A (H1N1), according to an MMWR report. The neurologic disease observed in these four patients was less severe than that seen in seasonal influenza: two of the four had seizures, and all fully recovered. READ MORE…

Comparative Efficacy of Inactivated and Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Comparative Efficacy of Inactivated and Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines
A.S. Monto and Others

Data are scarce regarding the comparative efficacies of the inactivated (intramuscular administration) and live attenuated (intranasal administration) seasonal influenza vaccines. During the 2007–2008 influenza season, 1952 healthy young adults were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of these two vaccines. The inactivated vaccine was found to have an absolute efficacy of 68%, whereas the live attenuated vaccine had an absolute efficacy of 36%.

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Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus (”Swine Flu”) Probably Is More Virulent Than Seasonal Flu Virus

In an animal study published in Nature, the pandemic virus replicates faster and damages lungs more. READ MORE…

H1N1 Influenza, Public Health Preparedness, and Health Care Reform

PERSPECTIVE
H1N1 Influenza, Public Health Preparedness, and Health Care Reform
N. Lurie

In December 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services will present to Congress its first-ever national health security strategy. Dr. Nicole Lurie writes that national health security will not be achievable without key elements of reform.

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The Sudden Birth of H1N1 “Swine” Flu: What Does the Future Hold?

The past and future flu virus …

In recent weeks, an international outbreak of illness has occurred; it is caused by a new strain of influenza virus (2009 A/H1N1) that contains a combination of swine, avian, and human influenza virus genes. In this post, Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, provides some additional background information. (more…)