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Welcome to the International Immunocompromised Host Society
A Message from the President: Professor Per Ljungman:
Dear Members of the ICHS:
This fall has been very intense for many of us working with immunocompromised patients. The H1N1 pandemic has hit our patients hard and a large proportion of deaths have occurred in patients belonging to risk groups including the immunocompromised hosts. This has caused a lot of worry for our patients and their relatives and we have not had enough information to relieve their concerns. We have not known how severe the infections were likely to be, how the infections should be optimally be managed, or how the vaccines once they became available should be used most appropriately.
At least in Sweden, the number of cases is now rapidly decreasing and the first phase of the pandemic seems to be over. Many important points have come up in the discussion regarding management of our patients for example the safety of the newly and rapidly developed vaccines and how much testing should have been performed before starting general vaccination. We do not know what will happen during the next season that begins soon in the southern hemisphere. Therefore it is important to collect and distribute available information so that we can be better prepared for a 2nd season that might be milder, similar or more severe than the first.
One place to get this information is a tour upcoming 16th Symposium in Budapest. For more information including the latest program click the link on the top left side bar of his page.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Budapest!
Warmest regards
Per Ljungman
Join us in Budapest!
The ICHS is the premier, international, multi-disciplinary forum
for scientific and clinical interchange to improve understanding and
management of the immunocompromised host.
Vision Statement
"To advance the understanding of the interactions between host
defenses and microbial agents in order to improve prevention and
management of human disease in patients with compromised immune
function."
Principles
To accomplish this mission, the ICHS commits its individual and
collective resources to:
· Recognize and promote excellence in all aspects of the Society
· Promote career development
· Maintain focus on patient
· Maintain the international nature of the Society
· Provide a forum that brings together clinicians and scientists
· Engage the membership
· Strive to be self-sustainable
ICHS is resolved to implement environmentally friendly
and sustainable initiatives. We recycle paper waste and use only
recycled paper from managed sources in the ICHS office when the use
of paper is necessary. Conferences will be planned to maximize
the use of "Green" objectives where possible.
Additional Information on
Executive Committee and Council Members and for a list of past presidents
of the Society
Revised:
02/02/10
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