sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
thank you to the Lancet for open source on this article :applause:
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61130-2
Cite or Link Using DOI
Avoiding panic in a pandemic
Original Text
The Lancet
As of June 15, nearly 36 000 people in 76 countries have been infected with influenza A (H1N1) and 163 have died. Last week, WHO raised the pandemic alert level from phase 5 to 6?the highest level?officially signifying the start of the first influenza pandemic since 1968. Phase 6 means that there are now sustained community level outbreaks of infection in countries in two continents.
How should nations respond? Many countries will have pandemic preparedness plans that call for special measures to be introduced at phase 6. The problem with these plans is that they were devised on the basis of a virulent H5N1 avian influenza being the pandemic virus. Phase 6 could trigger border closures, travel restrictions, and other strong measures?disproportionate reactions for the less severe H1N1 virus currently circulating. At this time, WHO regards the H1N1 pandemic to be of ?moderate severity?. Most people infected with the H1N1 virus have had mild symptoms and have often recovered rapidly without treatment. The number of severe and fatal cases has been small, and many of these cases have occurred in people with underlying chronic conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity. So far, health systems in affected countries have coped and WHO does not expect to see a jump in severe cases or deaths.
But while this news calls for a calm response, complacency would be unwise. Severe and fatal infections have occurred in previously healthy young and middle-aged adults. Influenza A (H1N1) poses a particular risk for pregnant women. Developing countries with a high burden of other diseases and weak health systems should expect to see more severe and fatal infections than would developed countries. Some nations could experience a more severe second wave of infection during their winter influenza season. A vaccine against H1N1 will not be ready before September, according to WHO. And, although the pandemic virus seems stable now, it could mutate.
Countries should tailor their pandemic plans to the severity of an influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in their populations. But they must also remain vigilant and be prepared for the situation to worsen.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61130-2/fulltext?_eventId=login
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61130-2
Cite or Link Using DOIAvoiding panic in a pandemic
Original Text
The Lancet
As of June 15, nearly 36 000 people in 76 countries have been infected with influenza A (H1N1) and 163 have died. Last week, WHO raised the pandemic alert level from phase 5 to 6?the highest level?officially signifying the start of the first influenza pandemic since 1968. Phase 6 means that there are now sustained community level outbreaks of infection in countries in two continents.
How should nations respond? Many countries will have pandemic preparedness plans that call for special measures to be introduced at phase 6. The problem with these plans is that they were devised on the basis of a virulent H5N1 avian influenza being the pandemic virus. Phase 6 could trigger border closures, travel restrictions, and other strong measures?disproportionate reactions for the less severe H1N1 virus currently circulating. At this time, WHO regards the H1N1 pandemic to be of ?moderate severity?. Most people infected with the H1N1 virus have had mild symptoms and have often recovered rapidly without treatment. The number of severe and fatal cases has been small, and many of these cases have occurred in people with underlying chronic conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity. So far, health systems in affected countries have coped and WHO does not expect to see a jump in severe cases or deaths.
But while this news calls for a calm response, complacency would be unwise. Severe and fatal infections have occurred in previously healthy young and middle-aged adults. Influenza A (H1N1) poses a particular risk for pregnant women. Developing countries with a high burden of other diseases and weak health systems should expect to see more severe and fatal infections than would developed countries. Some nations could experience a more severe second wave of infection during their winter influenza season. A vaccine against H1N1 will not be ready before September, according to WHO. And, although the pandemic virus seems stable now, it could mutate.
Countries should tailor their pandemic plans to the severity of an influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in their populations. But they must also remain vigilant and be prepared for the situation to worsen.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61130-2/fulltext?_eventId=login