Milwaukee swine flu testing results published.

Researchers at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee published the first initial paper describing the Milwaukee prevalence of the largest outbreak of novel swine origin influenza virus (S-OIV) in America in the June 11, 2009, online issue of Viruses. This corresponded to the announcement by World Health Organization of the first influenza pandemic in 41 years (see also Medical College of Wisconsin).

Beginning April 17, 2009, increased numbers of novel swine origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) cases began appearing in the U.S. As part of a rapid clinical and public health response, the Medical College and its two affiliated teaching hospitals - Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) and Froedtert Hospital - established full genetic subtyping of all influenza A viruses identified in patient samples sent to the respective clinical laboratories. Froedtert Hospital's testing is performed by Dynacare Laboratories.

The Medical College's Midwest Respiratory Virus Program (MRVP) used its newly developed multiplex, rapid diagnostic testing for influenza, to subtype all influenza A samples obtained during the 16-week period prior to April 28 and the first four weeks of the subsequent pandemic.

According to Kelly J. Henrickson, M.D., professor of pediatrics and microbiology, "Continued rapid local surveillance in Milwaukee should help define important epidemiologic and virologic characteristics during the early phase of this pandemic to help facilitate current and future public health responses."

During the first four weeks of the epidemic, 679 of 3,726 (18.2 percent) adults and children tested for influenza A were identified with S-OIV infection. S-OIV was confirmed on Day Two of instituting subtype testing and within four days of reports of national cases of S-OIV. Of the 2,678 children and adolescents from whom ...