Virological surveillance of influenza viruses in the WHO European Region in 2019/20 - impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
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Angeliki Melidou Dmitriy Pereyaslov Olav Hungnes Katarina Prosenc Erik Alm Cornelia Adlhoch James Fielding Miriam Sneiderman Oksana Martinuka Lucia Pastore Celentano Richard Pebody WHO European Region influenza surveillance networkAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the 2019/20 WHO European Region influenza surveillance. Compared with previous 4-year averages, antigenic and genetic characterisations decreased by 17% (3,140 vs 2,601) and 24% (4,474 vs 3,403). Of subtyped influenza A viruses, 56% (26,477/47,357) were A(H1)pdm09, 44% (20,880/47,357) A(H3). Of characterised B viruses, 98% (4,585/4,679) were B/Victoria. Considerable numbers of viruses antigenically differed from northern hemisphere vaccine components. In 2020/21, maintaining influenza virological surveillance, while supporting SARS-CoV-2 surveillance is crucial.
Journal details
Journal Eurosurveillance
Volume 25
Issue number 46
Pages 2001822
Available online
Publication date
Full text links
Publisher website (DOI) 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.46.2001822
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Europe PubMed Central 33213683
Pubmed 33213683