Swine influenza (H1N1): diagnostic dilemmas early in the pandemic.

摘要

Introduction:Recognizing and diagnosing cases of influenza A in adults during the influenza season is relatively straightforward. This year, the swine influenza H1N1 pandemic began at the end of the usual influenza season (December 2008-March 2009). Swine influenza H1N1 appears to have started in Veracruz, Mexico, quickly spreading to other parts of Mexico, then to the USA, Europe and other parts of the world. In New York, the first recognized cases were at a school in New York City. The pandemic quickly spread to surrounding areas during April-May 2009 [1]. A pandemic alert was declared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and hospitals in affected areas activated pandemic influenza plans, as we did at our hospital.