What is the Minnesota Department of Health’s vision for the H1N1 in the fall?
It is uncertain at this time how severe subsequent waves of a novel H1N1 outbreak will be in terms of illness and death compared with other influenza viruses or the spring 2009 wave. Other pandemics in the 20th century have followed a consistent pattern with multiple waves. If the pattern holds true, the United States could see a second wave of the disease in the early fall of 2009 into the winder of 2010. If the virus follows the pandemic patterns of the 20th century, healthcare providers should prepared for the potential of higher level of virulence in the fall wave, which occurred in both 1918 and 1967. Patterns would suggest cases could appear in early fall and will be occurring well into the normal seasonal flu months. If this occurs, the population will not have an available vaccine, and similar patterns of infection are expected, with high prevalence in children and young adults. The Commissioner of Health has directed MDH to be ready to respond to a moderate to severe pandemic
