Abstract
Since the first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Taiwan was identified in March 2003, viral respiratory infections, in particular the influenza virus, have become a national public health concern. Taiwan would face a serious threat of public health problems if another SARS epidemic overlapped with a flu outbreak. After SARS, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control accelerated and strengthened domestic research on influenza and expanded the exchange of information with international counterparts. The capacity of influenza A to cross species barriers presents a potential threat to human health. Given the mutations of avian flu viruses such as H7N9, H6N1, and H10N8, all countries, including Taiwan, must equip themselves to face a possible epidemic or pandemic. Such preparedness requires global collaboration.
Highlights
The growing interconnectedness and complexity of the world presents an increasing challenge to influenza prevention and control
Almost all HA (H1–H16) and NA (N1–N9) subtypes of influenza viruses are found in aquatic birds, but those subtypes circulating in humans are limited to three HA (H1, H2, and H3) and two NA (N1 and N2) subtypes before 1997 when the first outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in humans occurred in Hong Kong
Data from Taiwan CDC Lin et al indicate that H3 summer isolates were genetically and antigenically distinct from preceding seasons but were similar to viruses isolated during the following winter [8]
Summary
The growing interconnectedness and complexity of the world presents an increasing challenge to influenza prevention and control. The emergence of pandemic influenza H1N1 from a swine origin in 2009 [1], the sporadic zoonotic cases of swine origin influenza viruses (SOIV) in 2011-2012 [2], and avian influenza A virus subtypes, including H5N1, H7N7, H9N2, H7N3, and H7N9, were all experienced to infect humans during the past years All of these indicate the importance of rapid laboratorial diagnosis of influenza virus and early detection of epidemics. Data from Taiwan CDC Lin et al indicate that H3 summer isolates were genetically and antigenically distinct from preceding seasons but were similar to viruses isolated during the following winter [8] This observation is consistent with the summer epidemic strains being the progenitors of those dominant in the following flu season. Respiratory infections, especially influenza, have a public health priority after the SARS outbreaks in Taiwan
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