The research reported in the story below appeared in the journal, pLos Medicine, is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by the Public Library of Science. The journal website describes its role as follows.

The Washington Post

“With the second wave of H1N1 infections having crested in the United States, leading epidemiologists are predicting that the pandemic could end up ranking as the mildest since modern medicine began documenting influenza outbreaks.

“Experts warn that the flu is notoriously unpredictable, but several recent analyses, including one released late Monday, indicate that the death toll is likely to be far lower than the number of fatalities caused by past pandemics. (Emphasis added)

“The predictions are being met with a mix of skepticism, relief and trepidation: Public health officials worry that people may become complacent about getting vaccinated, which could prove disastrous if a third wave of infections swells later this winter or the virus mutates into a more dangerous form. (Emphasis added)

“I think it is very likely to be the mildest pandemic on record,” said Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiology professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, who led a federally funded analysis with researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and elsewhere published online Monday by the journal PLoS Medicine.”

Source: Washington Post, December 8, 2009

Citation: pLos (Public Library of Science), December 8, 2009