Are we ready to battle against a new H1N1 pandemic?

The previous pandemic outbreak of H1N1 in 2009 was recorded as having a large number of severe cases which needed intensive care management amounting to around 9-31%. It also had many fatalities approximating to 14% to 46% of severe cases. 25% of these incidences were reported from South East Asia leaving us with an obligation to manage the new pandemics more efficiently. The immediate causes for the fatalities reported were related to respiratory issues followed by cardiovascular events. With the experience of the 2009 pandemic many guidelines were put into practice. Out of these, the guidelines important for intensive care include the critical care management of severe forms of the disease and the use of ventilator strategies. They are not only important, but demand improvements as well. The nature of the rising trend of the death rate during the last episode in 2009 makes this compulsion more imperative. How much and up to what extent these recommendations are being used for the current ongoing outbreak, the changes suggested and the expected pitfalls need to be learnt and appraised. Hence as critical care specialists we should be well aware of the current management strategies.