The flu pandemic is not over.
The 2009 AH1N1 influenza virus continues to be the dominant influenza virus in circulation in the world. Based on historical data, pandemics are characterized by several successive waves, potentially more impactful (e.g. 1968 pandemic). Compared with seasonal flu, the proportion of severe / deadly cases in previously healthy and young subjects is substantially higher. Although fewer older persons were infected with the pandemic AH1N1 virus, paradoxically, infected older people will experience the highest rates of severe disease and death of any age group. Vaccination of older persons is therefore a priority.
Because it is the dominant circulating strain, the WHO recommends that the pandemic H1N1 strain should be incorporated into the seasonal flu vaccine for 2010. Keiji Fukuda, MD, MPH, special adviser to the WHO director-general on pandemic influenza, stressed that the recommendation does not indicate that the pandemic is over.
Although fewer older persons were infected with the pandemic AH1N1 virus, paradoxically, infected older people will experience the highest rates of severe disease and death of any age group. Vaccination of older persons is therefore a priority.
“The recommendation to put the pandemic virus in the upcoming vaccine really means that this has been a dominant virus, and it is expected that it will continue to be a very significant virus circulating around the world,” Fukuda said.
The WHO Recommendation for the Composition of the 2010 Southern Hemisphere (SH) Vaccine is:
— an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus, the pandemic strain
— an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;
— a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
Tags: AH1N1, geriatrics, pandemic, Prevention, senior citizens, swine flu, well-being
