Events surrounding the spread of H1N1 influenza virus have dominated the news over the course of the last few weeks. We are all receiving calls from patients worried that they may have symptoms, while others are concerned that they may be at risk. Everyone has questions: Is there any need to think about stockpiling Tamiflu and other antiviral products, and should we recommend that at-risk patients start on a prophylactic antiviral regimen? How long will it be until we have vaccine resources at hand to combat the virus? Hosts Dr. Michael Greenberg and Dr. Larry Kaskel sort through your questions, as well as those you are getting from your patients, with the help of Dr. Joan Nichols, associate director of research at the Galveston National Biocontainment Laboratory, our nation's first national biocontainment facility, based in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Nichols, who is also an associate professor of microbiology & immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, will also explore a few symptoms of the H1N1 virus that may allow us to distinguish the infection from that of the more commonplace seasonal influenza.
