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Preparing For H1N1 and the 2009 Flu Season

As the influenza season approaches, our focus has turned to the Southern Hemisphere to learn how they weathered their first wave of the pandemic H1N1 Influenza virus. On Ozmosis, physicians have been following regular tactical reports on H1N1's impact from Dr. James Wilson, Chief Scientist and Biosurveillance expert at Veratect.  Dr. Wilson's reporting has included morbidity and mortality statistics, effects on ICU's and infrastructure, and social dissent and unrest stemming from H1N1's spread.  While there are too many variables to reliably predict what our experience will be this fall, the reports reveal some very concerning details about how quickly the health systems in many countries were overwhelmed by both the sick and the worrying well. 

More than two million people are believed to have contracted the new flu in the U.S.; 7,511 had been hospitalized and 477 had died as of Aug. 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. World-wide, 177,457 people have been confirmed with the disease, and 1,462 deaths had been reported as of Aug. 12, according to the World Health Organization.

In July, we co-hosted a Symposium on Social Media and Healthcare with speakers from CDC, FDA, HHS, NIH and the private sector.  Videos and presentations from all the panels, including "H1N1 Influenza: How Social Media Improves Communication & Collaboration For Public Health", can be found on the event website - http://www.socialmediahit.com.  This panel in particular examined how the CDC, NLM and Ozmosis utilized social media solutions to engage and inform patients and providers in innovative ways, and we will continue to see a variety of creative solutions emerge that allow us to communicate and collaborate more effectively this flu season.

For U.S licensed physicians looking for practical guidance from their peers and up to the minute news on infectious disease outbreaks, including H1N1, they can join their colleagues on Ozmosis.  In addition to real-time alerts from Veratect, physicians discuss CDC communications, local health department alerts, and their own views on treatment options.  By working together to share best practices and to stay informed, we will be better prepared for the next wave of H1N1 Influenza.

Jason Bhan, MD
Co-Founder, Ozmosis

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