Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) and HIV

During the past several weeks, human infections with a novel strain of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) have been identified in the U.S., Mexico, and more than a dozen other countries. In response, the WHO has set the pandemic alert level to 5 on a 6-point scale, indicating human-to-human transmission of this virus in at least two countries within one WHO region and signaling a high likelihood of an imminent pandemic. The clinical presentation of swine-origin influenza is not different than that of seasonal influenza (high fever, cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea, and malaise), although there seems to be a higher proportion of patients presenting with diarrhea and abdominal pain. Many HIV-infected individuals and their providers are understanda…