RESULTS OF IDENTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS OF INFLUENZA AND OTHER ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS WITH THE METHOD OF RT-LAMP

Currently, the detection and identification of viruses that cause respiratory and influenza-like illness (ILI) is one of the main tasks of  public healthcare. In 2016-2017, nasopharyngeal swabs were  collected from 200 sick children with ILI aged 0 to 5 years. Detection  of pathogens in ILI patients was carried out by RT-LAMP  amplification method. In 43 % of patients ILI viruses were detected.  Among all confirmed cases of viral infection, a respiratory-syncytial  virus was detected in 49 %, rhinoviruses in 16 %, coronaviruses in 9 %,  parainfluenza viruses in 6 %, and human metapneumoviruses in 2 % of  samples. Influenza A viruses were found in 6 % of infected specimens.  The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of using RT-LAMP amplification in differential laboratory diagnostics of the ILI of viral etiology

Little evidence of avian or equine influenza virus infection among a cohort of Mongolian adults with animal exposures, 2010-2011

10.1371/journal.pone.0085616PLoS ONE91e8561

Human respiratory syncytial virus and influenza seasonality patterns-Early findings from the WHO global respiratory syncytial virus surveillance

BACKGROUND: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes illnesses among all age groups and presents a burden to healthcare services. To better understand the epidemiology and seasonality of RSV in different geographical areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinated a pilot initiative to access the feasibility of establishing RSV surveillance using the existing Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) platform. OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare RSV and influenza seasonality in countries in the northern andsouthern temperate, and tropics during the period January 2017 to April 2019. METHODS: Fourteen countries in six WHO regions participating in the GISRS were invited for the pilot. Hospitalized patients presenting with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), SARI without fever and outpatients presenting with acute respiratory illness (ARI) were enrolled from January 2017 to April 2019. The expected minimum sample size was 20 samples per week, year-round, per country. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect RSV and influenza viruses. Results were uploaded to the WHO FluMart platform. RESULTS: Annual seasonality of RSV was observed in all countries, which overlapped to a large extent with the influenza activity. In countries, in temperate regions RSV peaked in the autumn/winter months. In Egypt, a subtropical country, RSV activity peaked in the cooler season. In the tropical regions, RSV peaked during the rainy seasons. CONCLUSION: Early findings from the WHO RSV surveillance pilot based on the GISRS suggest annual seasonal patterns for of RSV circulation that overlap with influenza. RSV surveillance needs to be continued for several more seasons to establish seasonality patterns to inform prevention and control strategies

Epidemiological and virological characteristics of influenza in the western pacific region of the world health organization, 2006-2010

PLoS ONE75e3756

Epidemiological and Virological Characteristics of Influenza in the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization, 2006-2010

BACKGROUND: Influenza causes yearly seasonal epidemics and periodic pandemics. Global systems have been established to monitor the evolution and impact of influenza viruses, yet regional analysis of surveillance findings has been limited. This study describes epidemiological and virological characteristics of influenza during 2006-2010 in the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Influenza-like illness (ILI) and influenza virus data were obtained from the 14 countries with National Influenza Centres. Data were obtained directly from countries and from FluNet, the web-based tool of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. National influenza surveillance and participation in the global system increased over the five years. Peaks in ILI reporting appeared to be coincident with the proportion of influenza positive specimens. Temporal patterns of ILI activity and the proportion of influenza positive specimens were clearly observed in temperate countries: Mongolia, Japan and the Republic of Korea in the northern hemisphere, and Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia (France) in the southern hemisphere. Two annual peaks in activity were observed in China from 2006 through the first quarter of 2009. A temporal pattern was less evident in tropical countries, where influenza activity was observed year-round. Influenza A viruses accounted for the majority of viruses reported between 2006 and 2009, but an equal proportion of influenza A and influenza B viruses was detected in 2010. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite differences in surveillance methods and intensity, commonalities in ILI and influenza virus circulation patterns were identified. Patterns suggest that influenza circulation may be dependent on a multitude of factors including seasonality and population movement. Dominant strains in Southeast Asian countries were later detected in other countries. Thus, timely reporting and regional sharing of information about influenza may serve as an early warning, and may assist countries to anticipate the potential severity and burden associated with incoming strains