PENZBERG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The availability of suitable diagnostic tools for identifying infected individuals is crucial for precise treatment in infectious diseases. The appearance of a novel pandemic human strain of Influenza A (H1N1/09) in April 2009, which is currently regarded as the most dangerous widespread influenza virus subtype, may serve as an example. Surveillance and early disease containment measures continue to play an important role in managing outbreaks of this virus. According to the WHO Influenza update(1) of February 25, 2011, influenza activity is increasing in parts of North America coincident with increasing numbers of detections of Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and influenza type B. The dominant virus in North America is still currently Influenza A (H3N2). Transmission of influenza appears to have peaked in most parts of Western Europe, with the number of severe and fatal cases continuing to accumulate.
