# 4428
That Is The Question . . .
While pandemic H1N1 influenza is in retreat in many regions of the world, in recent weeks Influenza B has been reported on the rise, particularly in China and Hong Kong.
This is a trend I wrote about in late February in a blog entitled Influenza B Rising.
Today, Lisa Schnirring at CIDRAP news has an update on the spread of Influenza B, along with some comments from Professor Vincent Racaniello, who pens the Virology Blog.
With a lineup of talent like that, I’ll simply do the smart thing, and step out of the way. Follow the link to read Lisa’s article in its entirety.
WHO: Influenza B gaining foothold in more countries
Lisa Schnirring
Staff Writer
Mar 12, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – Though pandemic flu is circulating at low levels in many parts of the world, Thailand and some West African nations are reporting increased activity, and the virus is being edged out by influenza B in China and other Asian regions, with signs of westward spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.
Alhough surveillance information is limited in the West Africa area, the WHO said community transmission is occurring without any sign of a peak. Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, and Rwanda are among the countries reporting increased flu activity, but so far little is known about the clinical patterns of the illnesses there, the group said in its weekly update.
Pandemic flu activity persists throughout South and Southeast Asia, with Thailand reporting the region's highest level of activity since the middle of January. Though about 25% of Thai patients with flu-like illness are testing positive for influenza, the WHO said the increase is well below the peak the country experienced last summer.
Mongolia reported a sharp increase in flu activity, attributed mostly to an increase in influenza B activity. Though pandemic flu activity declined in neighboring China, influenza B activity continued to increase.
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