Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Viral Loads | CDC EID

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Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011
Dispatch
Comparison of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and Seasonal Influenza Viral Loads, Singapore
Chun K. Lee, Hong K. Lee, Tze P. Loh, Florence Y.L. Lai, Paul A. Tambyah, Lily Chiu, Evelyn S.C. Koay, and Julian W. Tang

Author affiliations: National University Hospital, Singapore (C.K. Lee, H.K. Lee, T.P. Loh, P.A. Tambyah, L. Chiu, E.S.C. Koay, J.W. Tang); Ministry of Health, Singapore (F.Y.L. Lai); and National University of Singapore, Singapore (P.A. Tambyah, E.S.C. Koay)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Mean viral loads for patients with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were ≈1 log10 times lower than those for patients with seasonal influenza within the first week after symptom onset. Neither pandemic nor seasonal influenza viral loads correlated with clinical severity of illness. No correlation was found between viral loads and concurrent illness.

Although clinical characteristics of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 have been well documented (1,2), fewer specific virologic comparisons with seasonal influenza have been studied in hospitalized patients (3). Studies of other influenza virus infections in humans suggest that host immune responses play a major role in determining clinical outcomes (4,5). We describe the initial viral loads for patients infected with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal (H1 and H3) influenza viruses and their correlation with various aspects of signs and symptoms at admission to the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore.


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Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Viral Loads | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Lee CK, Lee HK, Loh TP, Lai FYL, Tambyah PA, Chiu L, et al. Comparison of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza viral loads, Singapore. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Feb [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/2/287.htm


DOI: 10.3201/eid1702.100282


Comments to the Authors
Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Julian W Tang, Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, Singapore 119074; email: jwtang49@hotmail.com