Pandemic influenza A/H1N1pdm in Italy: age, risk and population susceptibility.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A common pattern emerging from several studies evaluating the impact of the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic influenza (A/H1N1pdm) conducted in countries worldwide is the low attack rate observed in elderly compared to that observed in children and young adults. The biological or social mechanisms responsible for the observed age-specific risk of infection are still to be deeply investigated.

Methods

The level of immunity against the A/H1N1pdm in pre and post pandemic sera was determined using left over sera taken for diagnostic purposes or routine ascertainment obtained from clinical laboratories. The antibody titres were measured by the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. To investigate whether certain age groups had higher risk of infection the presence of protective

SUBMITTER: Merler S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3792117 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature