tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
N Z Med J. 2012 Nov 9;125(1365):54-66.
The 2009 influenza pandemic: a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the health sector response in New Zealand.
Wilson N, Summers JA, Baker MG.
Source
Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, PO Box 7343 Wellington South, New Zealand. nick.wilson@otago.ac.nz.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
To inform future pandemic planning and disaster response, we aimed to review the literature on the health sector response to the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic in New Zealand in 2009.
METHODS:
We searched PubMed and Google Scholar along with the websites of government agencies for the period 1 April 2009 to 20 May 2012.
RESULTS:
In 2009, 18% of the New Zealand population had evidence of infection from the pandemic strain, 1122 people were hospitalised (with pandemic influenza as the primary diagnosis), 102 of those hospitalised were treated in intensive care units (ICU), and there were an estimated 49 pandemic-attributed deaths. At the severe end of the disease spectrum (ICU admissions and mortality), the health burden was significantly worse for Maori and Pacific peoples. The available evidence (including various estimates of low case-fatality risk relative to other high income countries), is consistent with the overall response in the public health, primary care and hospital sectors being fairly successful. Nevertheless, a number of likely weaknesses were identified, including a relative lack of: (i) a detailed review of the epidemiology and health sector response; (ii) sophisticated analytic studies to identify risk factors (e.g., using case-control studies); (iii) studies on pandemic vaccine uptake and public acceptability; and (iv) evaluation of the health protection messages that were used in campaigns and in media releases from health authorities.
CONCLUSIONS:
There appear to have been both strengths and weakness in the New Zealand health sector's response to the 2009 influenza pandemic. Nevertheless, it is probably still worthwhile to address some of the omissions to inform future pandemic and natural disaster planning and preparations.
PMID:
23254501
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23254501
The 2009 influenza pandemic: a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the health sector response in New Zealand.
Wilson N, Summers JA, Baker MG.
Source
Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, PO Box 7343 Wellington South, New Zealand. nick.wilson@otago.ac.nz.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
To inform future pandemic planning and disaster response, we aimed to review the literature on the health sector response to the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic in New Zealand in 2009.
METHODS:
We searched PubMed and Google Scholar along with the websites of government agencies for the period 1 April 2009 to 20 May 2012.
RESULTS:
In 2009, 18% of the New Zealand population had evidence of infection from the pandemic strain, 1122 people were hospitalised (with pandemic influenza as the primary diagnosis), 102 of those hospitalised were treated in intensive care units (ICU), and there were an estimated 49 pandemic-attributed deaths. At the severe end of the disease spectrum (ICU admissions and mortality), the health burden was significantly worse for Maori and Pacific peoples. The available evidence (including various estimates of low case-fatality risk relative to other high income countries), is consistent with the overall response in the public health, primary care and hospital sectors being fairly successful. Nevertheless, a number of likely weaknesses were identified, including a relative lack of: (i) a detailed review of the epidemiology and health sector response; (ii) sophisticated analytic studies to identify risk factors (e.g., using case-control studies); (iii) studies on pandemic vaccine uptake and public acceptability; and (iv) evaluation of the health protection messages that were used in campaigns and in media releases from health authorities.
CONCLUSIONS:
There appear to have been both strengths and weakness in the New Zealand health sector's response to the 2009 influenza pandemic. Nevertheless, it is probably still worthwhile to address some of the omissions to inform future pandemic and natural disaster planning and preparations.
PMID:
23254501
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23254501