Pandemic Influenza 2009: The Early Observations

摘要

Prominent among this publication's recent listing of the "red-hot research papers" of 2009 are reports, in the astrophysics literature, from something called the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (Science Watch, March/April 2010). However, not far behind lie three publications that might be considered of rather more immediate earthly interest. They are on "swine flu," not perhaps the best term for the disease that has swept the world since pandemic H1N1/09 influenza virus first attracted attention just over a year ago. For one thing, influenza in pigs has long been a worry for animal husbandry without (usually) transmission to humans. For another, H1N1/09 has not (yet) caused outbreaks in swine-but if it did an alarming "Pandora's box" might be opened (J. Cohen, Science, 325 [5937]: 140-1, 2009).