InFACT and Severe H1N1 Infection in the Developing World
Pandemics such as H1N1 pose a disproportionate burden on the developing world, already at a great disadvantage because of scarce resources in the best of times. Limited resources and the lack of intensive care services may result in much greater morbidity and mortality than would be seen in the developed world. Identifying inexpensive, effective, and readily available treatments that can reduce the severity of illness for patients with severe H1N1 disease assumes great importance. We will use this site:
- To provide colleagues in the developing world access to up to date information regarding the H1N1 pandemic.
- To facilitate their participation in observational studies and clinical trials to find treatments that can be made available quickly and inexpensively.
- To develop a global catalog of critical care capacity in the developed and developing world that can be used to empower research and educational activities during the current pandemic and in coming years
As of January 31, 2010, worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 15,174 deaths.