Burnham Institute
Member
Genetic analysis of H3N2 influenza A viruses isolated in
2006–2007 in Nairobi, Kenya
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/ac...=10.1111/j.1750-2659.2008.00044.x&cookieSet=1
Wallace D. Bulimo,a Jason L. Garner,b David C. Schnabel,c Sheryl A. Bedno,d M. Kariuki Njenga,e
Walter O. Ochieng,f Evans Amukoye,f James M. Magana,f James M. Simwa,f Victor O. Ofula,a
Samwel M. Lifumo,f Julia Wangui,a Robert F. Breiman,e Samuel K. Martinc
aKenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya with secondment to the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit, Nairobi, Kenya. bAir Force Institute for
Operational Health, Brooks City Base, San Antonio, TX, USA cU.S. Army Medical Research Unit – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya dWalter Reed Army
Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA eCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, International Emerging Infections Program – Kenya,
Nairobi, Kenya. fKenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Correspondence: Wallace Bulimo, U.S. Army Medical Research Unit – Kenya, Box 606, Village Market, 00621 Nairobi, Kenya.
Email: wbulimo@wrp-nbo.org
Accepted 15 April 2008. Published Online 2 June 2008.
Background Minimal influenza surveillance has been carried out
in sub-Saharan Africa to provide information on circulating
influenza subtypes for the purpose of vaccine production and
monitoring trends in virus spread and mutations.
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate a
surveillance program in Kenya to isolate and characterize
influenza viruses.
Results
In Kenya and most of Africa have not provided the much
needed information on circulating influenza A subtypes
and their variants in the region for the purpose of vaccine
production, and monitoring trends in virus spread
and mutations. In this report, the first characterization
of human influenza A viruses from East Africa, we demonstrate
prevalence of the H3N2 subtypes, in agreement
with data from the rest of the world. In addition, the
findings show key aa changes exhibited by the 2006 Kenyan
isolates indicating that these viruses were more closely
related to recent WHO vaccine strains than to older
strains, mirroring the evolution of circulating influenza A
globally.
2006–2007 in Nairobi, Kenya
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/ac...=10.1111/j.1750-2659.2008.00044.x&cookieSet=1
Wallace D. Bulimo,a Jason L. Garner,b David C. Schnabel,c Sheryl A. Bedno,d M. Kariuki Njenga,e
Walter O. Ochieng,f Evans Amukoye,f James M. Magana,f James M. Simwa,f Victor O. Ofula,a
Samwel M. Lifumo,f Julia Wangui,a Robert F. Breiman,e Samuel K. Martinc
aKenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya with secondment to the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit, Nairobi, Kenya. bAir Force Institute for
Operational Health, Brooks City Base, San Antonio, TX, USA cU.S. Army Medical Research Unit – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya dWalter Reed Army
Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA eCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, International Emerging Infections Program – Kenya,
Nairobi, Kenya. fKenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Correspondence: Wallace Bulimo, U.S. Army Medical Research Unit – Kenya, Box 606, Village Market, 00621 Nairobi, Kenya.
Email: wbulimo@wrp-nbo.org
Accepted 15 April 2008. Published Online 2 June 2008.
Background Minimal influenza surveillance has been carried out
in sub-Saharan Africa to provide information on circulating
influenza subtypes for the purpose of vaccine production and
monitoring trends in virus spread and mutations.
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate a
surveillance program in Kenya to isolate and characterize
influenza viruses.
Results
In Kenya and most of Africa have not provided the much
needed information on circulating influenza A subtypes
and their variants in the region for the purpose of vaccine
production, and monitoring trends in virus spread
and mutations. In this report, the first characterization
of human influenza A viruses from East Africa, we demonstrate
prevalence of the H3N2 subtypes, in agreement
with data from the rest of the world. In addition, the
findings show key aa changes exhibited by the 2006 Kenyan
isolates indicating that these viruses were more closely
related to recent WHO vaccine strains than to older
strains, mirroring the evolution of circulating influenza A
globally.