INCE APRIL 17, 2009, WHEN THE first 2 cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus infection were reported in California, the virus has rapidly spread throughout the world. 1 On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to phase 6, indicating that a global pandemic had begun. 2 Although initial reports suggested that illness associated with pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection may be mild compared with the 1918 influenza pandemic, data on the clinical features and populations at risk of complications from pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection are still emerging. In the United

Campylobacter is a common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States. We conducted a population-based case-control study to determine risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter infection. During a 12-month study, we enrolled 1316 patients with culture-confirmed Campylobacter infections from 7 states, collecting demographic, clinical, and exposure data using a standardized questionnaire. We interviewed 1 matched control subject for each case patient. Thirteen percent of patients had traveled abroad. In multivariate analysis of persons who had not traveled, the largest population attributable fraction (PAF) of 24% was related to consumption of chicken prepared at a restaurant. The PAF for consumption of nonpoultry meat that was prepared at a restaurant was also large (21%); smaller proportions of illness were associated with other food and nonfood exposures. Efforts to reduce contamination of poultry with Campylobacter should benefit public health. Restaurants should improve food-handling practices, ensure adequate cooking of meat and poultry, and consider purchasing poultry that has been treated to reduce Campylobacter contamination.

half of Californians ≥ 20 years of age hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 infection were obese. Extreme obesity was associated with increased odds of death. Obese adults with 2009 H1N1 infection should be treated promptly and considered in prioritization of vaccine and antiviral medications during shortages.

NAI treatment of critically ill pH1N1 patients improves survival. While earlier treatment conveyed the most benefit, patients who started treatment up to 5 days after symptom onset also were more likely to survive. Further research is needed about whether starting NAI treatment >5 days after symptom onset may also convey benefit.

Invasive Salmonella infections are severe and can be life threatening. We analyzed population-based data collected during 1996-1999 by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), to determine the incidences, infecting serotypes, and outcomes of invasive Salmonella infection. We found that the mean annual incidence of invasive salmonellosis was 0.9 cases/100,000 population and was highest among infants (7.8 cases/100,000). The incidence was higher among men than women (1.2 vs. 0.7 cases/100,000; P<.001) and higher among blacks, Asians, and Hispanics than among whites (2.5, 2.0, and 1.3 cases/100,000 population, respectively, vs. 0.4 cases/100,000; all P<.001). Seventy-four percent of cases were caused by 8 Salmonella serotypes: Typhimurium, Typhi, Enteritidis, Heidelberg, Dublin, Paratyphi A, Choleraesuis, and Schwarzengrund. Of 540 persons with invasive infection, 386 (71%) were hospitalized and 29 (5%) died; 13 (45%) of the deaths were among persons aged > or =60 years. Invasive Salmonella infections are a substantial health problem in the United States and contribute to hospitalizations and deaths.