A perspective on the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic in Mexico

Pages: 223 - 238, Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2011

doi:10.3934/mbe.2011.8.223       Abstract        References        Full Text (390.5K)       Related Articles

Rodolfo Acuňa-Soto - Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Delegación Coyoacán, México D.F. 04510, Mexico (email)
Luis Castaňeda-Davila - Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Delegación Coyoacán, México D.F. 04510, Mexico (email)
Gerardo Chowell - Mathematical, Computational & Modeling Sciences Center, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Box 872402, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States (email)

Abstract: In this article, we provide a chronological description of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in Mexico from the detection of severe respiratory disease among young adults in central Mexico and the identification of the novel swine-origin influenza virus to the response of Mexican public health authorities with the swift implementation of the National Preparedness and Response Plan for Pandemic Influenza. Furthermore, we review some features of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in Mexico in relation to the devastating 1918-1920 influenza pandemic and discuss opportunities for the application of mathematical modeling in the transmission dynamics of pandemic influenza. The value of historical data in increasing our understanding of past pandemic events is highlighted.

Keywords:  Pandemic influenza; reproduction number; epidemic model; H1N1 influenza; metapopulation model.
Mathematics Subject Classification:  Primary: 58F15, 58F17; Secondary: 53C35.

Received: June 2010;      Accepted: September 2010;      Published: January 2011.

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