The British Medical Journal (BMJ 2010;340:c1279) just published the results of a study of women who were more than 20 weeks pregnant and suffering from 2009 H1N1 influenza in Australia and New Zealand…the results were a bit sobering. These women were 13 times more likely to become critically ill and be admitted to hospital than non-pregnant women. Between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2009, 209 women of childbearing age were admitted to intensive care units [...]
H1N1 (Swine Flu): Happy National Influenza Vaccination Week – Have you been vaccinated for H1N1? Good week to do it!
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. This year’s NIVW (originally scheduled for December 6-10, 2009) is now rescheduled for January 10–16, 2010. Every year, certain days of NIVW are designated to highlight the importance for different groups like health care workers and children to [...]
H1N1 (Swine Flu): NEJM – New Study Regarding Risks and Pregnant Women
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a new study on the experience of pregnant women in our current pandemic…the net-net is that they don’t fare well if they become ill. From April 23 to August 11, 2009, a total of 10% of the 1088 patients who were hospitalized with or died from 2009 H1N1 influenza, as reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), were pregnant. A recent report from the first [...]
H1N1 (Swine Flu): New FluView Shows Continual Improvement Across the U.S
Although people are still getting sick and deaths are continuing, the pandemic picture is continuing to improve as the second wave continues its downward trend. The CDC FluView report is delayed this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 H1N1. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the eighth consecutive week. Thirty-five influenza-associated [...]
