Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2015/07/flu-scan-jul-10-2015
Flu Scan for Jul 10, 2015
H7N9 cases in China; Influenza B lineages compared
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); H7N9 Avian Influenza; Influenza, General
[h=3]China reports five H7N9 cases, four deaths[/h] Health officials in China yesterday reported five new H7N9 avian influenza infections, as well as four deaths. The events occurred in June and were included in a monthly surveillance update from the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission that was posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
No details such as gender, age, illness onset date, or location were included the individual cases. One of the cases was previously reported in early June, that involving a 61-year-old man from Shanghai.
The total for June is a decrease from the 15 cases and 6 deaths that China reported in May. The additional infections lift the global H7N9 case total to 685, according to a list that FluTrackers maintains.
Jul 10 FluTrackers thread
FluTrackers H7N9 case list
[h=3]Study: Influenza B lineages differ little in disease severity, drug resistance[/h] The two lineages of influenza B?Victoria and Yamagata?seem to differ little or not at all in the severity of disease they cause or in resistance to antiviral drugs, according to a study by an international team of researchers.
The authors examined data from influenza B patients from the first 5 years of the Influenza Resistance Information Study, a prospective study involving centers in seven countries, according to their report yesterday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Of 914 influenza B patients identified in the study, 586 had the Victoria lineage and 289 had Yamagata, with the other 39 cases not subtyped. Antiviral treatment was used in 474 patients.
The viruses were cultured and tested for phenotypic resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza); no resistance was observed in either lineage. In sequencing of the virus's neuraminidase component, the researchers found just 2 of 15 predefined resistance mutations, one in each of two patients. Testing of the two isolates showed that one of them had reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir, while the other was susceptible to both drugs.
As for disease outcomes, the team found "no consistent differences between virus lineages in times to viral clearance or to symptom or fever resolution" in adults, adolescents, or children.
"Influenza B virus lineage had no notable effect on disease outcomes or antiviral susceptibility in this population," the researchers concluded.
Jul 9 J Infect Dis abstract
Flu Scan for Jul 10, 2015
H7N9 cases in China; Influenza B lineages compared
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); H7N9 Avian Influenza; Influenza, General
[h=3]China reports five H7N9 cases, four deaths[/h] Health officials in China yesterday reported five new H7N9 avian influenza infections, as well as four deaths. The events occurred in June and were included in a monthly surveillance update from the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission that was posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
No details such as gender, age, illness onset date, or location were included the individual cases. One of the cases was previously reported in early June, that involving a 61-year-old man from Shanghai.
The total for June is a decrease from the 15 cases and 6 deaths that China reported in May. The additional infections lift the global H7N9 case total to 685, according to a list that FluTrackers maintains.
Jul 10 FluTrackers thread
FluTrackers H7N9 case list
[h=3]Study: Influenza B lineages differ little in disease severity, drug resistance[/h] The two lineages of influenza B?Victoria and Yamagata?seem to differ little or not at all in the severity of disease they cause or in resistance to antiviral drugs, according to a study by an international team of researchers.
The authors examined data from influenza B patients from the first 5 years of the Influenza Resistance Information Study, a prospective study involving centers in seven countries, according to their report yesterday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Of 914 influenza B patients identified in the study, 586 had the Victoria lineage and 289 had Yamagata, with the other 39 cases not subtyped. Antiviral treatment was used in 474 patients.
The viruses were cultured and tested for phenotypic resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza); no resistance was observed in either lineage. In sequencing of the virus's neuraminidase component, the researchers found just 2 of 15 predefined resistance mutations, one in each of two patients. Testing of the two isolates showed that one of them had reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir, while the other was susceptible to both drugs.
As for disease outcomes, the team found "no consistent differences between virus lineages in times to viral clearance or to symptom or fever resolution" in adults, adolescents, or children.
"Influenza B virus lineage had no notable effect on disease outcomes or antiviral susceptibility in this population," the researchers concluded.
Jul 9 J Infect Dis abstract