Medical writing support was provided by Dr Sarah Angus at Alpharmaxim Healthcare Communications during the preparation of this paper, Selleck Perifosine supported by Novartis Vaccines. “
“Since April, 2009, a novel strain of H1N1 influenza, now formally called H1N1 A/California/7/2009 (herein referred to as pandemic H1N1), has spread world-wide. Emerging first in Mexico and the United States, early

cases occurred in Canada as well. Epidemiological and clinical descriptions suggest that children, particularly those with underlying health conditions, are at higher risk for severe infection. In the United States, 36 pediatric deaths were attributed to pandemic H1N1 [1], while in the United Kingdom a number of severe cases have occurred [2]. The Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT) has conducted seasonal influenza surveillance

of hospitalized children since 2003 [3], [4], [5] and [6]. With an established system at 12 tertiary care children’s hospitals, IMPACT extended its seasonal influenza surveillance to capture the spring 2009 pandemic H1N1 season. Influenza seasons in Canada usually span from November through May with sporadic activity in June [7] and [8]; Pexidartinib order however, the first wave of pandemic influenza occurred from May through the end of August [9]. This report will describe the initial wave of pandemic H1N1 pediatric cases in hospitalized children and how our data were used to inform response to the subsequent fall wave. Active surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza admissions in 0–16-year olds was conducted by IMPACT. IMPACT is a national surveillance initiative with centers located across Canada in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. These centers admit over 75,000 children annually, account for nearly 90% of the nation’s tertiary care pediatric MTMR9 beds, receive referrals from all provinces and territories and serve a population

base of about 50% of Canada’s children [10]. All centers have ethics approval for the surveillance. All centers routinely test children admitted with fever and respiratory symptoms to identify respiratory viruses. At each center, trained nurse monitors search laboratory test results daily for cases, then report case details on a standardized electronic case report form. Data collected include demographic information, health status, vaccination history, treatment, clinical manifestations, complications and outcome. Only children admitted with laboratory-confirmed influenza or a complication of influenza are included. All cases included in this analysis were admissions for laboratory-confirmed influenza A occurring from May 2009 through August 2009. PCR specific for pandemic H1N1 A/California/7/2009 was used for all admissions at all centers by June 2009. During May 2009, a combination of PCR specific for pandemic H1N1, immunofluorescence antigen assay and viral culture were used. Other rapid antigen testing was not used.