Comment on "Seroevidence for H5N1 influenza infections in humans: meta-analysis".
A better understanding of the severity of H5N1 in humans is needed. Wang et al. (Brevia, 23 March 2012, p. 1463; published online 23 February 2012) overinterpret the results of seroprevalence studies and take too little account of underlying uncertainties. Although the true risk of death from H5N1 infection will likely be lower than the 60% of reported laboratory-confirmed cases, there is little evidence of millions of missed infections.
Medical Research Council Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Imperial College London, London, UK. m.vankerkhove@imperial.ac.uk
Maria D
MD
Van Kerkhove
Steven
S
Riley
Marc
M
Lipsitch
Yi
Y
Guan
Arnold S
AS
Monto
Robert G
RG
Webster
Maria
M
Zambon
Angus
A
Nicoll
J S Malik
JS
Peiris
Neil M
NM
Ferguson
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral