When the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus emerged earlier this year, I began re-reading John Barry’s The Great Influenza. I came across the sentences that I had underlined during my first read identifying errors in basic virology. Because this is a very popular book, it’s important to identify the mistakes and correct them. Barry is …
The results of experiments comparing the virulence in animals of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus with seasonal strains have spawned the headline Study Suggests H1N1 Virus More Dangerous Than Suspected. In my view, the best experiment is now being done in humans: infection of millions with the pandemic virus. The results show that the virus …
Is the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus more dangerous than we think? Read More »
One notable characteristic of the four previous influenza pandemics is that they occurred in multiple waves. The 1918 pandemic began with outbreaks of low mortality in the spring and summer, followed by a more lethal wave in the winter. This pattern has fueled speculation that the current H1N1 pandemic strain will undergo mutation that leads …
The second RNA segment of the influenza virus genome encodes two proteins, PB1 and PB1-F2. The latter protein is believed to be an important determinant of virulence of influenza virus. Can we learn anything about the virulence of the new influenza virus H1N1 strains from a study of this protein? During influenza virus infection, PB1-F2 …
Influenza A/Mexico/2009 (H1N1): Absence of crucial virulence marker Read More »
