Notice to Clinicians: Early Reports of pH1N1-Associated Illnesses for the 2013–14 Influenza Season [December 24, 2013, 14:30 ET (2:30 PM ET)]

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). Health Alert Network (HAN)
• Description:
  December 24, 2013, 14:30 ET (2:30 PM ET)
  
  CDCHAN-00359
  
  From November through December 2013, CDC has received a number of reports of severe respiratory illness among young and middle-aged adults, many of whom were infected with influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 (pH1N1) virus. Multiple pH1N1-associated hospitalizations, including many requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and some fatalities have been reported. The pH1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 caused more illness in children and young adults, compared to older adults, although severe illness was seen in all age groups. While it is not possible to predict which influenza viruses will predominate during the entire 2013-14 influenza season, pH1N1 has been the predominant circulating virus so far. For the 2013-14 season, if pH1N1 virus continues to circulate widely, illness that disproportionately affects young and middle-aged adults may occur.
  
  Seasonal influenza contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality each year in the United States. In the 2012-13 influenza season, CDC estimates that there were approximately 380,000 influenzaassociated hospitalizations. Although influenza activity nationally is currently at low levels, some areas of the United States are already experiencing high activity, and influenza activity is expected to increase during the next few weeks.
  
  The spectrum of illness observed thus far in the 2013-14 season has ranged from mild to severe and is consistent with that of other influenza seasons. While CDC has not detected any significant changes in pH1N1 viruses that would suggest increased virulence or transmissibility, the agency is continuing to monitor for antigenic and genetic changes in circulating viruses, as well as watching morbidity and mortality surveillance systems that might indicate increased severity from pH1N1 virus infection. In addition, CDC is actively collaborating with state and local health departments in investigation and control efforts.
  
  
• Content Notes:
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  Health Alert: Requires immediate action or attention, highest level of importance.
  
  Health Advisory: May not require immediate action; provides important information for a specific incident or situation.
  
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• Subjects:
  Influenza, Human Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype Influenza Vaccines Seasons Vaccination
• Keywords:
  HAN Health Alert Network
• Source:
  HAN ; 359
• Series:
  Health Alert Network
• Subseries:
  CDC Health Advisory
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Alert
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Rights:
  Public Domain
• Pages in Document:
  4 unnumbered pages
• Issue:
  00359
• Collection(s):
  Health Alert Network (HAN)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7027801b804c06cfa6a53ea751c28d267acca4972d78f6c547b73cbb9f2ca9d33b0b49ea02a81e7f7219543072a9d58da43dfb86f9550bd909447185b8f788c3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/25268/cdc_25268_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.85 MB ]