The Bombay Technologist

Pandemic (H1N1) Influenza 2009

Samarthya Bhagia

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology Department

Keywords: H1N1, 2009 Influenza a Pandemic, Swine, Oseltamivir, PB1-F2, Antigenic Drift and Shift.

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Abstract

Influenza A viruses cause recurrent epidemics and global pandemics which claim millions of lives. The recent emergence of swine-origin H1N1 virus has transmitted to and spread among humans, resulting in outbreaks internationally. The introduction of improved methods for genetically manipulating influenza virus promises to revolutionize our understanding of viral replication and its interaction with host innate and acquired immune systems, and will also enable the improvement of vaccines. The large scale use of drugs for chemoprophylaxis and treatment will impose strong selection for the evolution of drug-resistant strains. This article reviews the origin of current H1N1 virus, epidemiology of the pandemic, treatment of the disease, research focus and possible developments in the future related to the disease.