Articles: pandemics.
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The current seventh pandemic of cholera, caused by serogroup O1, El Tor biotype, has now involved almost the entire developing world. The ongoing dynamic epidemiology of cholera, involving evolution of new strains, prolonged and more frequent epidemics, increased antimicrobial resistance, and awareness of the role of climate change upon the global burden has returned cholera to the forefront of global public health discussions. Improved water and sanitation should continue to be the mainstays of cholera-prevention efforts, but major improvements are a far-off goal for much of the cholera-affected developing world. The advent of safe and effective, new-generation oral vaccines against cholera has created renewed interest in the use of vaccines as a tool to control cholera.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Predicting influenza A and 2009 H1N1 influenza in patients admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illness.
To create a clinical decision tool for suspected influenza A (including 2009 H1N1) to facilitate treatment and isolation decisions for patients admitted to hospital with an acute respiratory illness from the emergency department (ED) during a 2009 H1N1 pandemic. ⋯ A clinical prediction tool was developed that may be able to assist in making appropriate isolation decisions during future 2009 H1N1 outbreaks.
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In a severe influenza pandemic, hospitals will likely experience serious and widespread shortages of patient pulmonary ventilators and of staff qualified to operate them. Deciding who will receive access to mechanical ventilation will often determine who lives and who dies. ⋯ If we are to devise just and effective plans for coping with a severe influenza pandemic, more attention to the issue of appeals processes for pandemic ventilator rationing decisions is needed. Arguments for and against appeals processes are considered, and some suggestions are offered to help efforts at devising more rational pandemic preparedness plans.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyPediatric alternate site of care during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
This study aimed to describe the design and implementation of an alternate site of care (ASC) for nonurgent pediatric patients with influenza-like illnesses during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and to evaluate its performance. ⋯ Selected nonurgent patients with influenza-like illness during a pandemic can be treated in a safe and timely manner with high levels of family satisfaction in a novel setting.