Global circulation of influenza

Abstract

Journal of Paediatrics and Child HealthVolume 51, Issue 10 p. 1045-1045 Heads UpFree Access Global circulation of influenza First published: 01 October 2015 https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13004_4AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat The spread of influenza A/H3N2 virus globally has been well characterised. Each year epidemics of A/H3N2 result from new genetic variants, which then spread from East and South-East Asia. A/H3N2 genetic variants do not persist locally between epidemics but are re-seeded from East and Southeast Asia. However, the pattern of circulation of A/H1N1 and influenza B viruses is largely unknown. A study used detailed sequencing of numerous strains of A/H1N1 and B viruses (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata) to examine circulation patterns.1 In contrast to A/H3N2, genetic variants of A/H1N1 and of B viruses persist locally for several seasons, and East and Southeast Asia played relatively little role in dissemination of new variants (Fig. 1). The lesser global circulation of influenza A/H1N1 and B viruses compared with A/H3N2 viruses is associated with slower antigenic evolution, lower age of infection, and fewer and smaller epidemics. Epidemic modelling suggests differences in age of infection and less frequent travel of children drive the different patterns of global circulation. This suggests that influenza virus circulation depends on a complex interaction between virus evolution, epidemiology and human behaviour. Figure 1Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Estimates of influenza A and B virus migration rate. Reference 1Bedford T, Riley S, Barr IG et al. Global circulation patterns of seasonal influenza viruses vary with antigenic drift. Nature 2015; 523: 217– 220. Reviewer: David Isaacs, david.isaacs@health.nsw.gov.au, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Volume51, Issue10October 2015Pages 1045-1045 FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation