PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - James Scriven
AU  - Ruth McEwen
AU  - Sanjay Mistry
AU  - Chris Green
AU  - Husam Osman
AU  - Mark Bailey
AU  - Christopher Ellis
TI  - Swine flu: a Birmingham experience
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.9-6-534
DP  - 2009 Dec 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 534--538
VI  - 9
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/9/6/534.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/9/6/534.full
SO  - Clin Med2009 Dec 01; 9
AB  - By the beginning of July 2009 the West Midlands had seen more cases of novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu) than any other region in the UK. Over a three-week period almost 850 people presented to Heartlands Hospital with flu-like symptoms. Of those admitted 52 adults were subsequently confirmed as having H1N1 infection. Most were younger than 30 and not from traditional influenza risk groups. The main risk factor for severe disease was asthma, and to a lesser extent pregnancy and obesity. Seven patients were admitted to intensive care and five developed an acute lung injury requiring prolonged admission. Two patients required extra corporeal membrane oxygenation and one died. Despite increased workload normal clinical services were unaffected. The hospital was not closed to admissions nor was it paralysed by staff absence. With a predicted second wave expected at the end of 2009, efforts to maintain effective community assessment remain crucial.