A large team of researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other institutions performed a new analysis of serologic studies from 19 countries in order to estimate the infection rate of the 2009 H1N1 influenza during the first year of the pandemic. The study, published in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, showed that about 24% of the population were infected with the H1N1 virus during the first wave of the pandemic. Of these infected, approximately 0.02% died.These results are slightly higher than the official estimates made by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the period immediately following the outbreak of the virus, and confirm the age-related distribution of H1N1 incidence, with the children being the most affected when compared to the over 65. One of the possible limitations of the study, as highlighted by the authors themselves, is that the vaccine might had little impact on their results, due to conflicting results and low vaccine coverage in most countries.
An evaluation of 2009 pandemic infection rate
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Serologic studies
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A halt to animal testing would translate into a damaging halt to biomedical research
Today, during the press conference held at the Italian Senate, the Gruppo 2003 for scientific research made a statement through its spokeperson, Dr Silvio Garattini.
The statement stressed that animal testing is still an irreplaceable must. Together with the Italian Senator, Hon. Elena Cattaneo and a number of other researchets, the Gruppo 2003 for scientific research found itself in the position to defend for the umpteenth time the rational values of Science from an animal rights initiative trying to impose a ban on animal testing.