History suggests that we are likely to experience a much bigger, second wave of H1N1 influenza pandemic in the fall. Four experts discuss different areas that will play a role in the public health response.
1.- E.R.'s May Be the First Victims. By Eric Toner, a specialist in emergency medicine and a senior associate with the Center for Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
We must plan now to prepare emergency rooms to meet the challenge, and educate patients with mild symptoms to seek alternative care.
2.- Fly the Germ-Free Skies. By Mark Gendreau, the vice chairman of emergency medicine at Lahey Clinic and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Tufts University.
Airports and airline personnel should be fully trained in infection control measures, and hand sanitizers should be available throughout airports and aboard aircraft.
3.- The ABC's of H1N1. By James C. King Jr., a professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His clinical research studies receive financing from influenza vaccine manufacturers.
Schools are a perfect environment for a virus to spread, so every county should make a concerted effort to monitor and minimize outbreaks.
4.- Prepare for a Vaccine Controversy. By Arthur Allen, the author of Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine’s Greatest Lifesaver.
If a vaccine for the H1N1 flu becomes widely available, the next challenge will be on educating the public on the risks and benefits of vaccination.