Estimation of the burden of pandemic(H1N1)2009 in developing countries: experience from a tertiary care center in South India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The burden of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza might be underestimated if detection of the virus is mandated to diagnose infection. Using an alternate approach, we propose that a much higher pandemic burden was experienced in our institution.

Methodology/principal findings

Consecutive patients (n = 2588) presenting to our hospital with influenza like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) during a 1-year period (May 2009-April 2010) were prospectively recruited and tested for influenza A by real-time RT-PCR. Analysis of weekly trends showed an 11-fold increase in patients presenting with ILI/SARI during the peak pandemic period when compared with the pre-pandemic period and a significant (P<0.001) increase in SARI admissions during the pandem

SUBMITTER: Moorthy M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3434194 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature