scholarly journals Epidemiological and virological assessment of influenza activity in Europe, during the 2006-2007 winter

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (34) ◽  
Author(s):  
J MS Arkema ◽  
A Meijer ◽  
T J Meerhoff ◽  
J Van Der Velden ◽  
W J Paget ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Vaccine Virus ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Virus Strains

Influenza surveillance in Europe is based on influenza surveillance networks that cooperate and share information through the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS). EISS collected clinical and virological data on influenza in 33 countries during the 2006-2007 winter. Influenza activity started around 1 January and first occurred in Greece, Scotland and Spain. It then moved gradually across Europe from south to north and lasted until the end of March. In 29 out of 33 countries, the consultation rates for influenza-like-illness or acute respiratory infections in the winter of 2006-2007 were similar or somewhat higher than in the 2005-2006 winter. The highest consultation rates for influenza-like-illness were generally observed among children aged 0-4 years and 5-14 years. The predominant virus strain was influenza A (97% of total detections) of the H3 subtype (93% of H-subtyped A viruses; 7% were A(H1)). The influenza A(H3) and A(H1) viruses were similar to the vaccine reference strains for the 2006-2007 season, A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) respectively. The majority of the influenza B viruses were similar to the reference strain B/Malaysia/2506/2004, included in the 2006-2007 vaccine. In conclusion, the 2006-2007 influenza season in Europe was characterised by moderate clinical activity, a south to north spread pattern across Europe, and a dominance of influenza A(H3). Overall there was a good match between the vaccine virus strains and the reported virus strains.

scholarly journals Epidemiological and virological assessment of influenza activity in Europe during the winter 2005-2006

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 11-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Meijer ◽  
T J Meerhoff ◽  
L. E. Meuwissen ◽  
J Van Der Velden ◽  
W J Paget ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Influenza B Virus ◽  
Random Pattern ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Spread Pattern

Influenza activity in Europe during the winter 2005-2006 started late January - early February 2006 and first occurred in the Netherlands, France, Greece and England. Subsequently, countries were affected in a random pattern across Europe and the period of influenza activity lasted till the end of April. In contrast to the winter seasons in the period 2001-2005, no west-east pattern was detected. In 12 out of 23 countries, the consultation rates for influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection in the winter 2005-2006 were similar or higher than in the winter 2004-2005, despite a dominance of influenza B viruses that normally cause milder disease than influenza A viruses. In the remaining 11 countries the consultation rates were lower to much lower than in the winter 2004-2005. The highest consultation rates were usually observed among children aged 0-14. The circulating influenza virus types and subtypes were distributed heterogeneously across Europe. Although the figures for total virus detections in Europe indicated a predominance of influenza B virus (58% of all virus detections), in many countries influenza B virus was predominant only early in the winter, whilst later there was a marked increase in influenza A virus detections. Among the countries where influenza A viruses were co-dominant with B viruses (9/29) or were predominant (4/29), the dominant influenza A subtype was H3 in seven countries and H1 in four countries. The vast majority of characterised influenza B viruses (90%) were similar to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage of influenza B viruses that re-emerged in Europe in the winter 2004-2005 but were not included in the vaccine for the influenza season 2005-2006. This might help to explain the dominance of influenza B viruses in many countries in Europe during the winter 2005-2006. The influenza A(H3) and A(H1) viruses were similar to the reference strains included in the 2005-2006 vaccine, A/California/7/2004 (H3N2) and A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), respectively. In conclusion, the 2005-2006 influenza epidemic in Europe was characterised by moderate clinical activity, a heterogeneous spread pattern across Europe, and a variable virus dominance by country, although an overall dominance of influenza B viruses that did not match the virus strain included in the vaccine was observed.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous influenza activity across Europe during the winter of 2002-2003

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 230-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Paget ◽  
T J Meerhoff ◽  
H Rebelo de Andrade ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Virus Strains

Influenza activity varied across Europe during the 2002-2003 season both in terms of the intensity of clinical activity and the circulating virus types/subtypes. Influenza B was generally predominant in the 'western' parts of Europe (Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland) and influenza A (H3N2) in the 'central' and 'eastern´ areas (Germany, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Netherlands). A number of countries experienced mixed seasons, first experiencing activity associated with influenza B and then with influenza A (Belgium, France and Spain). Generally, countries where influenza B was predominant had low (compared to historical data) levels of intensity (a mild season) and longer periods of influenza activity compared to countries where influenza A (H3N2) was predominant. A number of countries, all where influenza A (H3N2) was predominant, reported high levels of intensity compared to historical data: the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and Poland. In the six countries where age-specific incidence rates were available, the highest rates were observed among those aged 0-14 years. The influenza virus strains circulating in Europe had a good match with the virus strains in the influenza vaccine. A small number of isolates (A/Fujian/411/2002 (H3N2)-like) were reported at the end of the season that had a reduced reactivity to anti-sera of the vaccine strain. The composition of the 2003-2004 influenza vaccine is the same as during the 2002-2003 season.

scholarly journals Declining influenza activity in Europe while public concern over SARS has not increased general practice consultations for influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infections

2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Paget ◽  
M Zambon ◽  
H Upphoff ◽  
A I M Bartelds
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Surveillance Scheme

Influenza activity in the 22 networks (19 countries) that participate in the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS, http://www.eiss.org/) in the week ending 6 April 2003 (week 14/2003) was regional in Italy, local in nine networks and sporadic in eight networks (1). One network – Portugal – reported no influenza activity, indicating that the overall level of clinical activity was at baseline levels. Compared to week 13/2003, clinical morbidity rates declined in thirteen networks and remained stable in two (France and Slovenia).

scholarly journals Spotlight influenza: The 2019/20 influenza season and the impact of COVID-19 on influenza surveillance in the WHO European Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Adlhoch ◽  
Miriam Sneiderman ◽  
Oksana Martinuka ◽  
Angeliki Melidou ◽  
Nick Bundle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Rapid Reduction ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
The Impact

Background Annual seasonal influenza activity in the northern hemisphere causes a high burden of disease during the winter months, peaking in the first weeks of the year. Aim We describe the 2019/20 influenza season and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sentinel surveillance in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Methods We analysed weekly epidemiological and virological influenza data from sentinel primary care and hospital sources reported by countries, territories and areas (hereafter countries) in the European Region. Results We observed co-circulation of influenza B/Victoria-lineage, A(H1)pdm09 and A(H3) viruses during the 2019/20 season, with different dominance patterns observed across the Region. A higher proportion of patients with influenza A virus infection than type B were observed. The influenza activity started in week 47/2019, and influenza positivity rate was ≥ 50% for 2 weeks (05–06/2020) rather than 5–8 weeks in the previous five seasons. In many countries a rapid reduction in sentinel reports and the highest influenza activity was observed in weeks 09–13/2020. Reporting was reduced from week 14/2020 across the Region coincident with the onset of widespread circulation of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions Overall, influenza type A viruses dominated; however, there were varying patterns across the Region, with dominance of B/Victoria-lineage viruses in a few countries. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an earlier end of the influenza season and reduced influenza virus circulation probably owing to restricted healthcare access and public health measures.

scholarly journals Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merryn Roe ◽  
Matthew Kaye ◽  
Pina Iannello ◽  
Hilda Lau ◽  
Iwona Buettner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Vaccine Virus ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Neuraminidase Inhibitors ◽  
Response System ◽  
Surveillance And Response

As part of its role in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne received a record total of 5866 human influenza positive samples during 2017. Viruses were analysed for their antigenic, genetic and antiviral susceptibility properties and were propagated in qualified cells and hens’ eggs for use as potential seasonal influenza vaccine virus candidates. In 2017, influenza A(H3) viruses predominated over influenza A(H1)pdm09 and B viruses, accounting for a total of 54% of all viruses analysed. The majority of A(H1)pdm09, A(H3) and influenza B viruses analysed at the Centre were found to be antigenically similar to the respective WHO recommended vaccine strains for the Southern Hemisphere in 2017. However, phylogenetic analysis indicated that the majority of circulating A(H3) viruses had undergone genetic drift relative to the WHO recommended vaccine strain for 2017. Of 3733 samples tested for susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, only two A(H1)pdm09 viruses and one A(H3) virus showed highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir, while just one A(H1)pdm09 virus showed highly reduced inhibition by zanamivir.

scholarly journals Mild to moderate influenza activity in Europe and the detection of novel A(H1N2) and B viruses during the winter of 2001-02

2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Paget ◽  
T J Meerhoff ◽  
N L Goddard ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Influenza B Virus ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
H1n2 Virus ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Virus Strains

Influenza activity in Europe during the 2001-02 influenza season was mild to moderate. Compared to historical data, the intensity was low in six countries, medium in eleven and high in one country (Spain). The dominant virus circulating in Europe was influenza A(H3N2). Two novel influenza virus strains were isolated during the 2001-02 season: influenza A(H1N2) viruses (mainly isolated in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but also in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Romania), and influenza B viruses belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage (mainly isolated in Germany, but also sporadically in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway). With the exception of H1N2 virus detections in England, and Ireland and the influenza B viruses belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage in Germany, these two viruses did not circulate widely in Europe and did not play an important role in influenza activity during the 2001-02 season. An influenza B virus belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage will be included in the 2002-03 influenza vaccine. The new subtype influenza A(H1N2) is covered by the 2002-03 vaccine, as the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase components of the H1N2 viruses are antigenically similar to the vaccine components (H1N1 and H3N2).

scholarly journals Genetic and Antigenic Characterization of an Influenza A(H3N2) Outbreak in Cambodia and the Greater Mekong Subregion during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurre Y. Siegers ◽  
Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran ◽  
Ruopeng Xie ◽  
Yi-Mo Deng ◽  
Sarika Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Vaccine Virus ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Multiple Virus ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Greater Mekong Subregion

Introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19 in early 2020 coincided with a global decrease in active influenza circulation. However, between July and November 2020, an influenza A(H3N2) epidemic occurred in Cambodia and in other neighboring countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Southeast Asia. We characterized the genetic and antigenic evolution of A(H3N2) in Cambodia and found that the 2020 epidemic comprised genetically and antigenically similar viruses of Clade3C2a1b/131K/94N, but they were distinct from the WHO recommended influenza A(H3N2) vaccine virus components for 2020-2021 Northern Hemisphere season. Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple virus migration events between Cambodia and bordering countries, with Laos PDR and Vietnam also reporting similar A(H3N2) epidemics immediately following the Cambodia outbreak: however, there was limited circulation of these viruses elsewhere globally. In February 2021, a virus from the Cambodian outbreak was recommended by WHO as the prototype virus for inclusion in the 2021-2022 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine. Importance The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered the circulation patterns of respiratory diseases worldwide and disrupted continued surveillance in many countries. Introduction of control measures in early 2020 against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has resulted in a remarkable reduction in the circulation of many respiratory diseases. Influenza activity has remained at historically low levels globally since March 2020, even when increased influenza testing was performed in some countries. Maintenance of the influenza surveillance system in Cambodia in 2020 allowed for the detection and response to an influenza A(H3N2) outbreak in late 2020, resulting in the inclusion of this virus in the 2021-2022 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

scholarly journals Influenza and Influenza-Like Illnesses in Poland in the Epidemic Season 2010/2011 According to the SENTINEL Influenza Surveillance System

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
MAGDALENA ROMANOWSKA ◽  
ILONA STEFAŃSKA ◽  
LIDIA B. BRYDAK
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Epidemic Season ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Analyze Data ◽  
Virus Influenza

The aim of this study was to analyze data collected by the SENTINEL influenza surveillance system in Poland in the first post-pandemic season 2010/2011. The results include weeks 35/2010-17/2011. Physicians registered weekly number of influenza-like illnesses and collected specimens. Laboratory tests were done using PCR and/or real-time PCR or immunofluorescence. Laboratories also isolated the influenza virus. Influenza-like illness incidence amounted to 2802.7/100000. Weekly incidence ranged from 11.3/100000 to 232/100000. The most affected group was children 0-4 years. Influenza-like illness peak occurred between weeks 02/2011 and 11/2011. Influenza infections were confirmed in 34.9% of specimens. More cases were caused by influenza A, including A(H1N1)pdm09 than influenza B (59.9% vs. 40.1%). The isolated strains were similar to A/California/7/2009 or B/Brisbane/60/2008. Season 2010/2011 in Poland did not differ from the rest of Europe. Further improvement is necessary, especially in the area of specimen collection at the beginning of an epidemic season and carrying out the isolation of the influenza virus.

scholarly journals Monitoring of influenza in the EISS European network member countries from October 2000 to April 2001

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
A Mosnier ◽  
W J Paget ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Network Member ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
European Network ◽  
Previous Season ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Surveillance Scheme

In countries covered by the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), the 2000-2001 winter was marked mainly by the spread of influenza A(H1N1) viruses. Influenza B, which globally represented a minority of cases, was common later in the season and predo-minant in Great Britain, Ireland, and Portugal. Influenza activity was at its maximum during the period of January and February/March 2001 with little time lag between countries (maximum four weeks). Overall, the morbidity rates reported were much lower than for the previous season, illustrating a moderate level of influenza activity.

scholarly journals Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia H Price ◽  
Natalie Spirason ◽  
Cleve Rynehart ◽  
Sook Kwan Brown ◽  
Angela Todd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Vaccine Virus ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Response System ◽  
Surveillance And Response

As part of its role in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne received a total of 3993 human influenza-positive samples during 2018. Viruses were analysed for their antigenic, genetic and antiviral susceptibility properties. Selected viruses were propagated in qualified cells or hens’ eggs for use as potential seasonal influenza vaccine virus candidates. In 2018, influenza A(H1)pdm09 viruses predominated over influenza A(H3) and B viruses, accounting for a total of 53% of all viruses analysed. The majority of A(H1)pdm09, A(H3) and influenza B viruses analysed at the Centre were found to be antigenically similar to the respective WHO-recommended vaccine strains for the Southern Hemisphere in 2018. However, phylogenetic analysis indicated that a significant proportion of circulating A(H3) viruses had undergone genetic drift relative to the WHO-recommended vaccine strain for 2018. Of 2864 samples tested for susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, three A(H1)pdm09 viruses showed highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir, while one B/Victoria virus showed highly reduced inhibition by both oseltamivir and zanamivir.

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