Bulletin of the World Health Organization Planning for uncertainty: a European approach to informing responses to the severity of influenza epidemics and pandemics
A conference about the socio-economic impact that epidemics and pandemics may have will be held in Milan, October 27, with the collaboration of ASSET project. The event was inspired by the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which brought significant consequences on the economic and social structures of the three countries involved by the epidemic.
Perlman S, McCray PB Jr. N Engl J Med. 2013 Aug 1;369(5):466-7.
Approximately 1 year ago, a novel coronavirus, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), was first identified in the Journal as the causative agent of a lethal pneumonia in several patients in the Middle East. In this issue of the Journal, Assiri et al.4 describe the largest outbreak of MERS-CoV infection thus far, showing that the virus is transmitted from human to human.
Gao R1, Cao B, Hu Y, Feng Z, Wang D, Hu W, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013 May 16;368(20):1888-97.
Background: Infection of poultry with influenza A subtype H7 viruses occurs worldwide, but the introduction of this subtype to humans in Asia has not been observed previously. In March 2013, three urban residents of Shanghai or Anhui, China, presented with rapidly progressing lower respiratory tract infections and were found to be infected with a novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus.
Cowling BJ, Jin L, Lau EH, Liao Q, Wu P, Jiang H, et al. Lancet. 2013 Jul 13;382(9887):129-37.
Background:
The novel influenza A H7N9 virus emerged recently in mainland China, whereas the influenza A H5N1 virus has infected people in China since 2003. Both infections are thought to be mainly zoonotic. We aimed to compare the epidemiological characteristics of the complete series of laboratory-confirmed cases of both viruses in mainland China so far.
Gao HN, Lu HZ, Cao B, Du B, Shang H, Gan JH, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013 Jun 13;368(24):2277-85.
Background: During the spring of 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged and spread among humans in China. Data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of the infections caused by this virus.
Methods: Using medical charts, we collected data on 111 patients with laboratory-confirmed avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) infection through May 10, 2013.
Crosier A, McVey D, French J. Eur J Public Health. 2015 Feb;25(1):135-9.
Background:
Pandemic influenza has the potential to cause widespread death and destruction. Communications with the public have a vital role in the prevention of pandemic influenza by promoting the effective uptake of behaviours that can delay the spread of infection. This study explored the development and implementation of communications in the pandemic influenza outbreak of H1N1 ('swine flu') in 2009 in three European countries.
