Contagious Period for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

Abstract

Most infected persons shed live virus after fever abated.

Persistence of pandemic influenza H1N1 virus in young patients after oseltamivir therapy in the 2009–2010 season: a comparison with seasonal H1N1 with or without H275Y mutation

“…However, the sensitivity of the virus to oseltamivir in the 2009-2010 season as evaluated by IC 50 was quite comparable to that of seasonal H1N1 without H275Y mutation [10]. A long virus shedding period has also been reported, by RT-PCR, for young H1N1pdm patients [21][22][23]. The reason for the long virus persistence, irrespective of low IC 50 of oseltamivir to H1N1pdm, is not clear.…”

Virus shedding and environmental deposition of novel A (H1N1) pandemic influenza virus: interim findings

“…13 Finally, in a Canadian study, 43 community patients with pandemic H1N1 had a nasopharyngeal specimen collected on day 8 of their illness: 74% were PCR-positive and 19% were culture-positive. 33 One subject from our study who demonstrated the shedding of live virus up to day 8 will be considered further. She was a 34-year-old woman, of South-Asian origin, who had no comorbidities, and did not take regular medicine.…”

“…These data are consistent with other recent studies that suggest that pandemic H1N1 may be contagious for a longer period of time than seasonal flu. 13,33 This has clear implications for pandemic infection control and self-isolation guidelines. However, despite finding that live virus shedding continued for over 4 days in most subjects, fomites contaminated with virus were found in only two instances, involving only one subject.…”

Selecting Nonpharmaceutical Strategies to Minimize Influenza Spread: The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic and beyond

“…Current plans should be reviewed and revised based on lessons learned during the pH1N1 pandemic. 6,7,[17][18][19][20][21][22] However, as that experience illustrated, we can never conceive of all possible scenarios ahead of time, will always want additional information, and need a flexible framework for making and communicating decisions. Despite advances in vaccine production and distribution, it is unlikely that a well-matched vaccine will be available at the onset of the next pandemic.…”