Seasonal influenza vaccination may mitigate the potential impact of an H5N1 pandemic

Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious, acute respiratory illness that affects people of all ages. The major pathogens, influenza A viruses, are classified into serologically defined antigenic subtypes of the hemagglutinin （HA） and neuraminidase （NA）. Of 16 identified HA and 9 NA subtypes, only H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes are now circulating among humans. Influenza vaccines have been available for over 60 years and well proven to be an effective public health intervention to control seasonal influenza epidemics. Seasonal influenza vaccines presently available, inactivated or split, contain the circulating strains of influenza A virus H3N2, H1N1 and influenza B virus. The composition of the vaccine is renewed semi-annually, as necessary, based on surveillance data.     

Australian general practice and pandemic influenza: models of clinical practice in an established pandemic

To minimise the health impact of pandemic influenza, general practice will need to provide influenza-related and non-influenza primary health care, as well as contribute to the public health goal of disease control. Through interviews and workshops with general practitioners, nurses and policy leaders between March and July 2006, and literature analysis, we identified potential models of general practice in an established pandemic, and assessed their strengths and weaknesses. Three possible clinical models were identified: a default model of no change to service delivery; a streamed services model, where general practices reorganise themselves to take on either influenza-specific care or other clinical services; and a staff-determined mixed model, where staff move between different types of services. No single model or set of strategies meets the needs of all general practices to deliver and sustain the essential functions of primary health care during an established pandemic. Governments, general practice and the relevant peak professional bodies should decide before a pandemic on the suite of measures needed to support the models most suitable in their regions. Effective participation by general practice in a pandemic requires supplementary infrastructure support, changes to financial and staffing patterns, a review of legislation on medicolegal implications during an emergency, and intensive collaboration between general practices.     

累计和控制图法在预警流行性感冒流行中的应用

目的通过应用累计和控制图法分析《北京市医院传染病监测预警系统》中流感样病例的变化情况,以探讨累计和控制图法在流行性感冒流行预警中的应用价值。方法使用累计和控制图法对北京市门头沟区2009年的流感样病例数进行传染病预警分析。取H=3σ,k=1,分别计算C1、C2、C3,当C1≥H时认为增加差异有统计学意义,发出预警信号。结果C1：从第41～44周发出预警信号;C2：第39周、第41～48周发出预警信号;C3：第39～48周发出预警信号。C1、C2、C3均在流行性感冒高峰到来前发出警报,有良好的预警作用。结论使用累积和控制图分析可以在流行性感冒流行前准确发出预警信号,有良好的预警作用,为制订防控策略提供依据。     

重症甲型H1N1流感肺炎的CT动态改变

目的:研究重症甲型H1N1流感患者的肺部CT表现的动态改变.方法:回顾性分析经确诊的9例重症甲型H1N1流感患者的一系列胸部CT资料.结果:起病1周内,9例CT平扫均发现双肺斑片状、磨玻璃密度影,合并胸腔积液1例.发病后1～2周病变变化迅速,在磨玻璃密度影内出现结节2例;7例病变开始吸收;胸膜增厚2例.出院前CT检查,...     

Avian influenza virus: the threat of a pandemic

The 1918 influenza A virus pandemic caused a death toll of 40 to approximately 50 million. Currently, because of the widespread dissemination of the avian influenza virus (H5N1), there is a high risk of another pandemic. Avian species are the natural hosts for numerous subtypes of influenza A viruses; however, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) is not only extremely lethal to domestic avian species but also can infect humans and cause death. This review discusses why the avian influenza virus is considered the most likely candidate for the first flu pandemic of the 21st century.     

EARS在北京市流感大流行预警中的应用

目的：阐明累积和法用于北京市流感暴发预警的有效性。方法:应用基于累积和算法的早期异常报告系统（early aberration reporting system, EARS）对北京市流感样病例监测数据进行预警分析,以流感病原学监测结果作为判断流感高峰来临的金标准。 结果:2009年至2010年北京市共有421家医院开展了流感样病例监测,7家网络实验室开展了流感病原学监测。2009年6月至2010年4月,421家医院的平均流感样病例百分比为2.56%,共在11家医院采集流感样病例咽拭子19 262份,分离流感病毒5 045株,以新甲型H1N1流感病毒为主。使用累积和法对北京市二级以上医院流感样病例监测数据进行分析较好地预警了流感高峰的来临。结论:应用累积和法对北京市流感监测数据进行分析,可以高效准确地对流感高峰进行预警。     

6例重症和危重甲型H1N1流感患者临床分析

目的探讨影响重症甲型H1N1流感预后的因素。方法具体分析6例重症和危重甲型H1N1流感患者的临床表现和诊治过程。结果经过积极的抗病毒治疗和机械通气治疗纠正呼吸衰竭,6例患者均痊愈出院。结论抗病毒治疗和机械通气能改善患者的预后。     

Breastfeeding--anti-viral potential and relevance to the influenza virus pandemic

Essential nutritive and immunological ingredients abundantly present in breastmilk make it the choice infant nutrition. The uniqueness of mother's milk, in contrast to most therapeutics and immunizations, lies in its potential to adapt itself to the requirements of the infant so that timely immune defenses are tapped from its constituents by immune regulation, modulation and immune acceleration to stimulate novel substances; these render it pertinent as defense when faced with challenging organisms. While it is appreciated that immunity can be transferred from mother to infant through breastmilk following maternal influenza vaccination, the immense benefits conferred by breastfeeding per se during influenza pandemics may not be fully valued. This is substantiated by debates and ambiguities for continued breastfeeding in the face of maternal influenza infections. This article emphasises the utmost importance of breastfeeding in viral pandemics in the light of the changing immunological strategies used by viruses at different times and the urgent need for such opportune defenses. The prolific interaction of its constituents is frequently understated as enormous advantages to the suckling infant.