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Tara C. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology. Her research involves a number of pathogens at the animal-human nexus. Additionally, she is the founder of Iowa Citizens for Science and also writes for The Panda's Thumb and previously for WIRED SCIENCE's Correlations. Please note the views expressed on this site are Dr. Smith's alone and may not be representative of the groups mentioned above.
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Category: General Epidemiology • General biology • Historical studies of disease • Infectious disease • Influenza • Policy • Politics • Public health
Posted on: January 25, 2006 10:00 AM, by Tara C. Smith
Day 1: History of Pandemic Influenza.
Day 2: Our adventures with avian flu.
Day 3: Challenges to pandemic preparedness
Day 4: 1918 influenza virus reconstructed
Day 5: How ready are we, and what can YOU do?
Many more influenza posts can be found at this link.
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Comments
Just a short reflection on the severity of swine influenza
It is too early to fully understand the current situation, But I would nevertheless draw your attention to the possibility that the very important pollution level and the high altitude of Mexico City (2,250 meters) can be partly responsible for the severity of swine influenza cases reported in Mexico. Remember that to date, all cases reported elsewhere in the world seem rather benign, or at least non-fatal. If this hypothesis is true, the severity of a pandemic outbreak may well be less severe than that suggests by the seriousness of the cases observed in Mexico City. Indeed, polluted cities such as Mexico City or located more than 2,000 meters are not numerous. I obviously do not know the nature of complications that resulted in the death of Mexican patients, but this knowledge could lead to a better understanding of how pollution and altitude should be considered as aggravating factors in the evolution of infection. Obviously, it is possible that the global death toll increase, but if, in the coming days, the severity of cases seen outside Mexico remains similar to what it is today and if it is confirmed that it is really the same viral strain, pollution and altitude could be important explanations of the current differential severity observed.
Alain Gagné,
biologist
Posted by: Alain Gagné | April 29, 2009 12:10 AM
The virus reached Europe weak. It isn't causing many deaths here.
Posted by: Best Sunglasses | September 13, 2009 6:05 AM
it is possible that the global death toll increase. so goverments need to prevent that danger!
Posted by: george | October 22, 2009 9:35 AM
thanks
Posted by: helen | February 28, 2010 8:20 AM