Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Annually the influenza centre receives more than 1000 virus isolates from around the world to monitor the changing pattern of viruses causing influenza throughout the year. These are characterized antigenically using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and selected viruses are subjected to closer scrutiny by nucleotide sequence analyses of their HA genes. This information is used in making the annual recommendation of vaccine composition. As in the last 15 years, influenza A viruses of both H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes and influenza B viruses have been isolated during the recent influenza season. Outbreaks in the northern hemisphere were largely caused by influenza B viruses which are similar to the B/Panama/45/90 reference strain. The proportion of influenza A increased later in the season and was predominantly of the H3N2 subtype, viruses similar to the recent A/Beijing/32/92 variant being most prevalent. The observed changes taking place will be discussed in the context of recent trends.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/BF01719677

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Epidemiol

Publication Date

08/1994

Volume

10

Pages

465 - 466

Keywords

Animals, Antigens, Viral, Disease Outbreaks, Genes, Viral, Hemagglutinins, Viral, Humans, Influenza A virus, Influenza B virus, Influenza, Human, Orthomyxoviridae