Weekly Virological Update on 12 August 2010
Virological Surveillance, week n° 30-2010 (25 July to 31 July 2010)
Trend of proportions of different type and subtype influenza viruses
Summary on week 30
- Overall influenza activity has remained at low levels in most parts of the world.
- Co-circulation of pandemic A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses has been reported from some countries.
Global Virological Surveillance
Overall influenza activity has remained low. Globally 46% of the sub-typed influenza A viruses were pandemic influenza A(H1N1) with circulation as predominant strain in New Zealand. Co-circulation of pandemic A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses was reported from Australia, China, India, Thailand and Singapore. Sporadic influenza B activity has been observed in some countries with decreased level of detections in China (29.4% of all influenza detections).
FluNet Report (For the week 25 July to 31 July 2010)
The total number of specimens reportedly positive for influenza viruses by National Influenza Centres (NICs) from 26 countries was 559. Of these, 401 (71.7%) were typed as influenza A and 158 (28.3%) as influenza B.
From the start of the pandemic in 19 April 2009 to 31 July 2010, the total number of specimens reported positive for influenza by NIC laboratories was 652,849*. Of these, 491,766 (75.3%) were pandemic A(H1N1), 8,983 (1.4%) were seasonal A(H1N1), 35,578 (5.4%) were A(H3N2), 81,189 (12.4%) were A (not subtyped) and 35,206 (5.4%) were influenza B.
Pandemic virus characterization
19 April 2009 to 8th August 2010 - cumulatively 156 countries shared a total of 26, 552 specimens (20,177 clinical and 6,375 isolates) with WHO CCs.
The majority of pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 influenza viruses analyzed to date are antigenically and genetically closely related to the recommended vaccine virus A/California/7/2009.
So far, 302 cases associated with oseltamivir resistant pandemic A(H1N1) viruses have been reported by GISN and other partners. All of these viruses showed the H275Y substitution and all remain sensitive to zanamivir. See below to obtain more information on oseltamivir resistant viruses.
GISN Information
WHO, through the GISN, continues monitoring the evolution and global circulation of influenza viruses, including pandemic, seasonal and other influenza viruses infecting, or with the potential to infect humans.
* Some NICs report data to FluNet retrospectively and updates of previous data with new results are frequent.