Influenza update - 25 May 2012 - Update number 160 (WHO): H3N2 drift variants, oseltamivir-resistant A(H1N1)pdm09 in Texas

[Giuseppe]

[Source: World Health Organization, full page: (LINK). Edited.]


Influenza update - 25 May 2012 - Update number 160



Summary

• The 2011-2012 influenza season is coming to an end in most northern temperate regions of the world. Countries in the southern hemisphere temperate zone are still at low or inter-seasonal levels, though some very small increases in detections have been reported in Chile. Some activity persists in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Throughout the 2011-12 influenza season, different viruses have predominated in different parts of the world in the northern hemisphere. In North America, Canada had a slight predominance nationally of influenza B over influenza A(H3N2) (67% vs. 33% respectively) particularly later in the season but the distribution was not uniform across the country. In the United States of America (USA), the proportions were reversed, and A(H3N2) was more common. The season in Mexico was dominated by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In Europe, the large majority of influenza viruses have been influenza A(H3N2) with only very small numbers of A(H1N1)pdm09 and B. In Asia, northern China and Mongolia reported mostly influenza B early in the season with influenza A(H3N2) appearing later, and this sequence was reversed in the Republic of Korea and Japan where, A(H3N2) was predominant in the beginning and type B appeared later.
• Early in the season, most viruses tested were antigenically related to those found in the current trivalent seasonal vaccine. However, by mid-season, divergence was noted in both the USA and Europe in the A(H3N2) viruses tested. Significant numbers of A(H3N2) viruses tested in recent months have shown reduced cross reactivity with the 2011-12 vaccine virus. Influenza type B virus detections have been both from the Victoria and Yamagata lineages with the former slightly more common in China and parts of Europe.
• Resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors has been low or undetectable throughout the season; however, a slight increase in levels of resistance to oseltamivir has been reported in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 isolates in the USA. Most (11/16) of these oseltamivir resistant cases have been from the state of Texas, where influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 has been the most common virus circulating.

Full version Epidemiological influenza surveillance update pdf, 730kb

Virological influenza surveillance update

Peer-reviewed literature Influenza serological studies to inform public health action: best practices to optimise timing, quality and Reporting



Source of data

The Global Influenza Programme monitors influenza activity worldwide and publishes an update every two weeks.

The updates are based on available epidemiological and virological data sources, including FluNet (reported by the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) and influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices and Member States. Completeness can vary among updates due to availability and quality of data available at the time when the update is developed.



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