title: 2009 Pandemic influenza A H1N1 in Alaska: temporal and geographic characteristics of spread and increased risk of hospitalization among Alaska Native and Asian/Pacific Islander people.
abstract: Alaska Native people have suffered disproportionately from previous influenza pandemics. We evaluated 3 separate syndromic data sources to determine temporal and geographic patterns of spread of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 (pH1N1) in Alaska, and reviewed records from persons hospitalized with pH1N1 disease in 3 areas in Alaska to characterize clinical and epidemiologic features of disease in Alaskans. A wave of pH1N1 disease swept through Alaska beginning in most areas in August or early September. In rural regions, where Alaska Native people comprise a substantial proportion of the population, disease occurred earlier than in other regions. Alaska Native people and Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PI) were 2-4 times more likely to be hospitalized than whites. Alaska Native people and other minorities remain at high risk for early and substantial morbidity from pandemic influenza episodes. These findings should be integrated into plans for distribution and use of vaccine and antiviral agents.
authors.affiliation: Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA. jdw2@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Louisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Castrodale
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bruden
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zulz
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: Donna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fearey
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hurlburt
authors.forename: Kim Boyd
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: Sassa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitka
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Timothy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Rosalyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Redd
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Layne
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cheek
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hennessy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics; D044382:Population Groups; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult