tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Euro Surveill
. 2020 Nov;25(46).
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.46.2001822.
Virological surveillance of influenza viruses in the WHO European Region in 2019/20 - impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Angeliki Melidou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Dmitriy Pereyaslov[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Olav Hungnes[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Katarina Prosenc[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Erik Alm[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cornelia Adlhoch[SUP] 1 [/SUP], James Fielding[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Miriam Sneiderman[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Oksana Martinuka[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lucia Pastore Celentano[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Richard Pebody[SUP] 2 [/SUP], WHO European Region influenza surveillance network; WHO European Region Influenza Surveillance Network author list
Collaborators, Affiliations
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the 2019/20 WHO European Region influenza surveillance. Compared with previous 4-year averages, antigenic and genetic characterisations decreased by 17% (3,140 vs 2,601) and 24% (4,474 vs 3,403). Of subtyped influenza A viruses, 56% (26,477/47,357) were A(H1)pdm09, 44% (20,880/47,357) A(H3). Of characterised B viruses, 98% (4,585/4,679) were B/Victoria. Considerable numbers of viruses antigenically differed from northern hemisphere vaccine components. In 2020/21, maintaining influenza virological surveillance, while supporting SARS-CoV-2 surveillance is crucial.
Keywords: COVID-19; Europe; SARS-CoV-2; influenza virus; pandemic; surveillance; virus characterization.
. 2020 Nov;25(46).
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.46.2001822.
Virological surveillance of influenza viruses in the WHO European Region in 2019/20 - impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Angeliki Melidou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Dmitriy Pereyaslov[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Olav Hungnes[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Katarina Prosenc[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Erik Alm[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cornelia Adlhoch[SUP] 1 [/SUP], James Fielding[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Miriam Sneiderman[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Oksana Martinuka[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lucia Pastore Celentano[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Richard Pebody[SUP] 2 [/SUP], WHO European Region influenza surveillance network; WHO European Region Influenza Surveillance Network author list
Collaborators, Affiliations
- PMID: 33213683
- DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.46.2001822
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the 2019/20 WHO European Region influenza surveillance. Compared with previous 4-year averages, antigenic and genetic characterisations decreased by 17% (3,140 vs 2,601) and 24% (4,474 vs 3,403). Of subtyped influenza A viruses, 56% (26,477/47,357) were A(H1)pdm09, 44% (20,880/47,357) A(H3). Of characterised B viruses, 98% (4,585/4,679) were B/Victoria. Considerable numbers of viruses antigenically differed from northern hemisphere vaccine components. In 2020/21, maintaining influenza virological surveillance, while supporting SARS-CoV-2 surveillance is crucial.
Keywords: COVID-19; Europe; SARS-CoV-2; influenza virus; pandemic; surveillance; virus characterization.