title: Mortality attributable to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute respiratory infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Starting in 2009, pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus has become one of the leading respiratory pathogens worldwide. However, the overall impact of this virus as a cause of mortality has not been clearly defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 on mortality in a Mexican population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the impact of pandemic influenza virus on mortality during the first and second outbreaks in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and compared it to mortality associated with seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the previous winter seasons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We estimated that, on average, 8·1% of all deaths that occurred during the 2003-2009 seasons were attributable to influenza and RSV. During the first pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 outbreak, there was an increase in mortality in persons 5-59 years of age, but not during the second outbreak (Fall of 2009). Overall, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 outbreaks had similar effects on mortality to those associated with seasonal influenza virus epidemics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus on mortality during the first year of the pandemic was similar to that observed for seasonal influenza. The establishment of real-time surveillance systems capable of integrating virological, morbidity, and mortality data may result in the timely identification of outbreaks so as to allow for the institution of appropriate control measures to reduce the impact of emerging pathogens on the population.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comas-García
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: García-Sepúlveda
authors.forename: José J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Méndez-de Lira
authors.forename: Saray
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aranda-Romo
authors.forename: Alba E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hernández-Salinas
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Noyola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics; D013997:Time Factors