scholarly journals An outbreak of influenza A(H3N2) in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India, in 2011

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (04) ◽  
pp. 362-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Peter ◽  
Anukumar Balakrishnan ◽  
Varsha A Potdar ◽  
Mandeep S Chadha ◽  
Santhosh M Jadhav
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
The World ◽  
Kerala State ◽  
Ha1 Gene ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Introduction: Influenza is an RNA virus that belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family. It causes a highly contagious acute respiratory illness, has been recognized since ancient times, and is a major health threat throughout the world. An outbreak of influenza-like illness (ILI) was reported from Alappuzha district of Kerala State between late June and July 2011. This investigation was conducted to determine the clinical picture, causative agents, and epidemiological characteristics of the illness. Methodology: The World Health Organization (WHO)’s case definition for ILI was followed throughout the investigation. Nasal or throat swabs were collected from 204 suspected patients. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based diagnosis was performed to detect influenza A and B viruses and their subtypes. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line was used for virus isolation. One-step RT-PCR was performed to amplify the HA1 gene of influenza A(H3N2). The amplicons for the HA1 gene of influenza A(H3N2) were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was done. Results: Analysis of the data revealed that 96 (47.05%) of the 204 respiratory specimens collected were influenza A(H3N2) and only 6 (2.94%) were A(H1N1)pdm09. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolated A(H3N2) was closely related to the 2012–2013 northern hemisphere vaccine strain (A/Victoria/361/2011/H3N2). Conclusions: An influenza A(H3N2) outbreak was confirmed in Alappuzha district of Kerala state with a co-circulation of A(H1N1)pdm09. No substantial difference in the sequence was observed in the etiological agent, and the virus was found to be sensitive to oseltamivir.

An approach to the understanding of the clinical-etiopathological aspect of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 862-869
Author(s):  
Meena Kumari ◽  
Monika Agrawal ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Singh ◽  
Parameswarappa S Byadgi
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Therapy Assessment ◽  
Differentiated Cells ◽  
The World ◽  
Polarized Epithelia ◽  
Well Differentiated ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Currently, the world is facing a health and socioeconomic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this disease as a pandemic. The condition (COVID-19) is an infectious disorder triggered by a newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2. Most of the COVID-19 infected patients will experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and recover without any unique therapy. Assessment of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 cases suggests the infected patients will not be contagious until the onset of severe symptoms and affects the other organs. Well-differentiated cells of apical airway epithelia communicating with ACE2 were promptly infected to SARS-CoV-2 virus. But the expression of ACE 2 in poorly differentiated epithelia facilitated SARS spike (S) protein-pseudo typed virus entry and it is replicated in polarized epithelia and especially exited via the apical surface. Limiting the transmission of COVID-19 infection & its prevention can be regarded as a hierarchy of controls. In this article, we briefly discuss the most recent advances in respect to aetiology, pathogenesis and clinical progression of the disease COVID-19.

scholarly journals Progression and Trends in Virus from Influenza A to COVID-19: An Overview of Recent Studies

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1145
Author(s):  
Hakimeh Baghaei Daemi ◽  
Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam Kulyar ◽  
Xinlin He ◽  
Chengfei Li ◽  
Morteza Karimpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
H1n1 Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
H1n1 Pandemic ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
First Case ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Influenza is a highly known contagious viral infection that has been responsible for the death of many people in history with pandemics. These pandemics have been occurring every 10 to 30 years in the last century. The most recent global pandemic prior to COVID-19 was the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. A decade ago, the H1N1 virus caused 12,500 deaths in just 19 months globally. Now, again, the world has been challenged with another pandemic. Since December 2019, the first case of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection was detected in Wuhan. This infection has risen rapidly throughout the world; even the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 as a worldwide emergency to ensure human health and public safety. This review article aims to discuss important issues relating to COVID-19, including clinical, epidemiological, and pathological features of COVID-19 and recent progress in diagnosis and treatment approaches for the COVID-19 infection. We also highlight key similarities and differences between COVID-19 and influenza A to ensure the theoretical and practical details of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Novel Antiviral Activities of Obatoclax, Emetine, Niclosamide, Brequinar, and Homoharringtonine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petter I. Andersen ◽  
Klara Krpina ◽  
Aleksandr Ianevski ◽  
Nastassia Shtaida ◽  
Eunji Jo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Rift Valley Fever Virus ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Hiv 1

Viruses are the major causes of acute and chronic infectious diseases in the world. According to the World Health Organization, there is an urgent need for better control of viral diseases. Re-purposing existing antiviral agents from one viral disease to another could play a pivotal role in this process. Here we identified novel activities of obatoclax and emetine against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), echovirus 1 (EV1), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in cell cultures. Moreover, we demonstrated novel activities of emetine against influenza A virus (FluAV), niclosamide against HSV-2, brequinar against HIV-1, and homoharringtonine against EV1. Our findings may expand the spectrum of indications of these safe-in-man agents and reinforce the arsenal of available antiviral therapeutics pending the results of further in vivo tests.

scholarly journals Epidemiological Surveillance To Establish Thresholds For Influenza Among Children In Satellite Cities Of A metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayako Matsuda ◽  
Kei Asayama ◽  
Taku Obara ◽  
Naoto Yagi ◽  
Takayoshi Ohkubo
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Type A ◽  
World Health ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Influenza Epidemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Abstract Background: Few reports have longitudinally investigated seasonal influenza epidemiological surveillance data of pediatric populations in the metropolitan areas of Japan. We aimed to provide descriptive characteristics of circulating influenza and to investigate the usefulness of setting thresholds for influenza in children (0–15 years old) in two satellite cities of a metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan, for five consecutive seasons of the influenza epidemic.Methods: The survey was conducted annually during the influenza season, from 2014 to 2018 (ending March 2019), at preschools (kindergartens and nursery schools), elementary schools, and junior high schools located in Toda and Warabi cities, Saitama prefecture. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics and established thresholds using the World Health Organization method.Results: Of the 108,362 children (21,024 to 22,088 throughout five seasons) who received the questionnaire, 76,753 (70.8%; 14,652 to 15,808) responded. After exclusion of responses without basic information, 64,586 children were included in the analysis, of which 13,754 (21.3%) had tested positive for influenza. Influenza type A was generally dominant, whereas type B was responsible for a substantial share of all influenza cases (>40% in seasons 2015 and 2017, when type A circulated with low incidence). The weeks when the influenza epidemic peaked had no clear seasonal pattern among the surveyed years, i.e., the peaks appeared at week 51 (mid-December) or later, whereas the World Health Organization methods reported that the median period when a peak was observed was at 3 weeks (mid-January), regardless of school age group.Conclusions: The present information obtained from the epidemiological survey regarding seasonal influenza in children would be useful for general practitioners, health policymakers, and planners who establish prevention and control methods against influenza.

scholarly journals Laboratory investigation of the first suspected human cases of infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in Bulgaria

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (30) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Hadzhiolova ◽  
S Pavlova ◽  
R Kotseva
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
H5n1 Virus ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
H5n1 Influenza

Reports of human cases of infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have received increased public attention because of the potential for the emergence of a pandemic strain. In the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006, avian influenza A(H5N1) virus caused outbreaks among domestic poultry and was isolated from wild swans in many European countries, including Bulgaria. Between January and March 2006, samples were collected from 26 patients who had been in close contact with ill or dead birds and developed a subsequent respiratory illness. The testing took place at the National Laboratory of Influenza in Sofia. Specific ?(H5N1) assays were applied for screening (Sacace RT-PCR and real-time kit). Avian flu ?(H5N1) virus was not detected in any of the patients tested. In three patients, human subtype ?(H1N1) influenza virus, identifiable by RT-PCR was isolated and further characterized by hemagglutination inhibition test (HIT). The reliability of the molecular assays used in this investigation was demonstrated in an International Quality Control for Human and Avian ?(H5N1) Influenza performed later in 2006 by INSTAND (Society for Promotion of Quality Assurance in the Medical Laboratories), Germany.

scholarly journals Cluster analysis of the origins of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Solovyov ◽  
G Palacios ◽  
T Briese ◽  
W I Lipkin ◽  
R Rabadan
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
H1n1 Virus ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
The United States ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

In March and April 2009, a new strain of influenza A(H1N1) virus has been isolated in Mexico and the United States. Since the initial reports more than 10,000 cases have been reported to the World Health Organization, all around the world. Several hundred isolates have already been sequenced and deposited in public databases. We have studied the genetics of the new strain and identified its closest relatives through a cluster analysis approach. We show that the new virus combines genetic information related to different swine influenza viruses. Segments PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NP and NS are related to swine H1N2 and H3N2 influenza viruses isolated in North America. Segments NA and M are related to swine influenza viruses isolated in Eurasia.

Co-infection of SARS CoV-2 and influenza A in a Pediatric Patient in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 232 (04) ◽  
pp. 217-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goetz Wehl ◽  
Monika Laible ◽  
Markus Rauchenzauner
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Pediatric Patient ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
World Health ◽  
Elderly Adults ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

In December 2019 a novel coronavirus was firstly encountered in Wuhan/China with a massive outbreak of fatal pneumonia leading to a pandemic declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020 (WHO Dashboard COVID-19. [WHO web site]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019), affecting mainly elderly adults with underlying co-morbidities. Clinical course in children below the age of 10 years is considered to be mild or even with subclinical signs (Sinha IP, Ha et al. The Lancet Respiratory medicine 2020;27;S2213–2600(20) 30152-1). We describe a 4 month old infant with co-infection of SARS CoV-2 and influenza A virus.

Phylogenetic, molecular and drug-sensitivity analysis of HA and NA genes of human H3N2 influenza A viruses in Guangdong, China, 2007–2011

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
pp. 1061-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. HUANG ◽  
L.-J. LIANG ◽  
N.-M. HOU ◽  
X. ZHANG ◽  
W.-Z. SU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Haemagglutination Inhibition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Receptor Binding Site ◽  
H3n2 Influenza ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Influenza Outbreaks ◽  
Ha1 Gene

SUMMARYAnnual H3N2 subtype influenza outbreaks in Guangdong, China are a severe public health issue and require ongoing monitoring of emerging viral variants. The variation and evolution of haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of influenza isolates from Guangdong during 2007–2011 and others from GenBank were analysed using Lasergene 7.1 and MEGA 5.05, and serological analysis of antigens was determined by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Susceptibility to antiviral drugs was correlated with genetic mutations. Phylogenetic analysis and alignment of HA and NA genes were performed on 18 Guangdong isolates and 26 global reference strains. The non-synonymous (dN) evolutionary rate of HA1 was 3·13 times that of HA2. Compared with the A/Perth/16/2009 vaccine HA gene, homologies of Guangdong isolates were between 98·8–99·7% and 98·0–98·4% in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Amino-acid substitutions were found in five epitopes of HA1 from Guangdong isolates between 2007 and 2011, especially in epitopes B (N160K) and D (K174R/N). The K189E/N/Q and T228A mutations in the receptor-binding site (RBS) occurred in the 2010 strains, which affected the antigenicity of HA1. The antigenicity of the epidemic H3N2 isolates in 2010 was somewhat different from that of A/Perth/16/2009. The Guangdong H3N2 isolates were determined to be oseltamivir-resistant with IC50 of 0·396±0·085 nmol/l (n=17) and zanamivir-resistant with IC50 of 0·477±0·149 nmol/l (n=18). Variations were present in epitopes B and D, two sites in the RBS and two glycosylation sites in the Guangdong H3N2 HA1 gene. The majority of the Guangdong H3N2 isolates were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. Compared to the World Health Organization 2012 vaccine strains, Guangdong H3N2 strains varied genetically and antigenically to some degree.

Concurrent Summer Influenza and Pertussis Outbreaks in a Nursing Home in Sydney, Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 962-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Ferson ◽  
Keira Morgan ◽  
Peter W. Robertson ◽  
Alan W. Hampson ◽  
Ian Carter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Acute Respiratory Illness ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Pertussis Infection ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Sydney Australia

AbstractObjective:To report on the investigation of a summer outbreak of acute respiratory illness among residents of a Sydney nursing home.Design:An epidemiologic and microbiological investigation of the resident cohort at the time of the outbreak and medical record review 5 months later.Setting:A nursing home located in Sydney, Australia, during February to July 1999.Patients:The cohort of residents present in the nursing home at the time of the outbreak.Interventions:Public health interventions included recommendations regarding hygiene, cohorting of residents and staff, closure to further admissions, and prompt reporting of illness; and virologic and serologic studies of residents.Results:Of the 69 residents (mean age, 85.1 years), 35 fulfilled the case definition of acute respiratory illness. Influenza A infection was confirmed in 19 residents, and phylogenetic analysis of the resulting isolate, designated H3N2 A/Sydney/203/99, showed that it differed from strains isolated in eastern Australia during the same period. Serologic evidence ofBordetellainfection was also found in 10 residents; however, stratified epidemiologic analysis pointed to influenza A as the cause of illness.Conclusions:The investigation revealed an unusual summer outbreak of influenza A concurrent with subclinical pertussis infection. Surveillance of acute respiratory illness in nursing homes throughout the year, rather than solely during epidemic periods, in combination with appropriate public health laboratory support, would allow initiation of a timely public health response to outbreaks of acute respiratory illness in this setting.

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