Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), full PDF document: (LINK). Extract, edited.]
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 32, 5-11 August 2012
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Influenza A (H3N2)v - USA - 2011-2012 cases
Opening date: 24 November 2011 Latest update: 9 August 2012
Epidemiological summary
Until April 2012, 13 human infections with swine-origin influenza A(H3N2)v viruses had been identified since 2009.
The new variant is a swine origin influenza A(H3N2) which has acquired the matrix (M) gene from the pandemic influenza A(H1N1).
Since July 2012, 152 cases of the variant influenza A(H3N2) virus (A(H3N2)v) have been detected in the US:
Web sources:
ECDC assessment
The recent increase in number of cases is consistent with the conclusions of the ECDC risk assessment published in November and updated in December 2011:
Actions
ECDC is following the situation closely and is in direct contact with the WHO, the US CDC and relevant experts in EU Member States.
ECDC and the Community Network of Reference Laboratories (CNRL) have worked to assess and strengthen laboratory capacity in Europe for detecting A(H3N2)v should it appear in persons in Europe. The results indicate that the variant viruses would be detected in most EU countries although some laboratories may not be able to subtype and identify the viruses as variant.
In this context, all unsubtypable influenza A viruses need to be rapidly referred to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
ECDC is currently reviewing its risk assessment and the state of preparedness in the EU.
The ECDC initial Rapid Risk Assessment was published in EWRS on 25 November 2011. This assessment was last updated in December 2011.
Further updates, incorporating information on the case in West Virginia, were circulated via EWRS on 9 December 2011 and published on the website on 13 December 2011.
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COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 32, 5-11 August 2012
(?)
Influenza A (H3N2)v - USA - 2011-2012 cases
Opening date: 24 November 2011 Latest update: 9 August 2012
Epidemiological summary
Until April 2012, 13 human infections with swine-origin influenza A(H3N2)v viruses had been identified since 2009.
The new variant is a swine origin influenza A(H3N2) which has acquired the matrix (M) gene from the pandemic influenza A(H1N1).
Since July 2012, 152 cases of the variant influenza A(H3N2) virus (A(H3N2)v) have been detected in the US:
- Hawaii (1),
- Illinois (1),
- Indiana (120), and
- Ohio (30).
Web sources:
- ECDC scientific advice
- WHO Global Alert and Response (GAR)
- CDC
- CIDRAP
- Indiana DoH [text provided with a broken URL, IOH.]
- Ohio DoH
ECDC assessment
The recent increase in number of cases is consistent with the conclusions of the ECDC risk assessment published in November and updated in December 2011:
- Sporadic infections and even localised outbreaks of A(H3N2)v infection among people will continue to occur in the US.
- While there is no evidence at this time that sustained human-to-human transmission is occurring, all influenza viruses have the capacity to change and spread widely.
- This variant causes only mild disease. Patients hospitalised had underlying conditions and they all recovered completely.
- This variant is susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) though the current A(H3N2) component of seasonal influenza vaccines is unlikely to provide protection. Older people are likely to have some protection from exposure to earlier vaccines.
- Overall, the immediate threat to human health is currently assessed as low in Europe.
- Currently, this event is not considered significant for the London2012 Olympic games.
Actions
ECDC is following the situation closely and is in direct contact with the WHO, the US CDC and relevant experts in EU Member States.
ECDC and the Community Network of Reference Laboratories (CNRL) have worked to assess and strengthen laboratory capacity in Europe for detecting A(H3N2)v should it appear in persons in Europe. The results indicate that the variant viruses would be detected in most EU countries although some laboratories may not be able to subtype and identify the viruses as variant.
In this context, all unsubtypable influenza A viruses need to be rapidly referred to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
ECDC is currently reviewing its risk assessment and the state of preparedness in the EU.
The ECDC initial Rapid Risk Assessment was published in EWRS on 25 November 2011. This assessment was last updated in December 2011.
Further updates, incorporating information on the case in West Virginia, were circulated via EWRS on 9 December 2011 and published on the website on 13 December 2011.
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