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While overall reporting of influenza around the world is low, there remain areas where pandemic H1N1 and/or seasonal flu strains are still circulating.
The CDC doesn’t normally publish their FluView report during the summer months, but they do keep track of the International flu situation using data provided by the World Health Organization.
Perhaps the most interesting facet is the continuing persistence of H3N2 in some African and South American reports.
First a graphic showing selected global trends for the 1st half of June, then some excerpts from this week’s update follow:
2009 H1N1 continues to actively circulate in the Caribbean, West Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. In the Southern Hemisphere, the proportion of influenza A (H3N2) viruses detected continues to increase and has exceeded reports of 2009 H1N1. In the Northern Hemisphere, the number of influenza B viruses detected has exceeded reports of 2009 H1N1.
Low levels of 2009 H1N1 influenza activity continue to be reported from Cuba and Colombia. 2009 H1N1 activity is increasing in Southern regions of India and circulating at low levels in several countries in Southeast Asia. Influenza type B is actively circulating in Central and Southern regions of Africa and is currently co-circulating with 2009 H1N1 in Bangladesh.
Influenza A (H3N2) and influenza type B viruses have been reported in South Africa, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses continue to be reported in East Africa. Sporadic seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses have been detected in Australia and New Zealand.
Selected Highlights
- According to WHO, the majority of 2009 H1N1 virus isolates tested worldwide remains sensitive to oseltamivir, an antiviral medicine used to treat flu. Among 2009 H1N1 isolates tested worldwide, 298 have been found to be resistant to oseltamivir – as of May 28, 2010, 67 of these isolates were detected in the United States. Approximately 1% of U.S. 2009 H1N1 viruses tested by CDC since September 1, 2009, have been resistant to oseltamivir.
- Influenza B continues to predominate in many countries of the Northern Hemisphere, including China (69.8% of all influenza detections) and the Russian Federation (93.7%).
- Influenza A (H3N2) activity persists and continues to increase in several countries of East Africa.
- On February 18, 2010, WHO published recommendations for the following viruses to be used for influenza vaccines in the 2010-2011 influenza season of the Northern Hemisphere:
- an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
- an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus*;
- a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
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