title: Emergence of influenza A (H1N1) PDM09 in the remote Islands of India--a molecular approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A disease outbreak of A (H1N1) PDM09 was reported in Andaman and Nicobar islands in 2009 with an attack rate of 33.5% among settler population and 26.3% among the aboriginal Nicobarese tribe. During the ongoing outbreak of A (H1N1) PDM09 disease in different parts of the world, a subject working in Dubai city of Saudi Arabia, came to Port Blair, following which the pandemic triggered for the first time in these Islands.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period August 2009 to January 2011, 30 confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) PDM09 virus infection was detected. To understand the genetic relationship, the NA gene sequences of the viruses were phylogenetically analysed together along with the virus sequence isolated from other parts of the world.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Formation of multiple clusters were observed, with the sequences of Andaman Islands, mainland India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and few other counties clustering together. The sequence analysis data revealed that there was no specific mutation conferring resistance to oseltamivir among the Andaman A (H1N1) PDM09 virus isolates. The result of phylogenetic analysis have also revealed that the A (H1N1) PDM09 virus might have spread in these remote Islands of India via the subject from Saudi Arabia/Dubai.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A (H1N1) PDM09 Influenza outbreak have highlighted the need to strengthen the region-specific pandemic preparedness plans and surveillance strategies.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muruganandam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Chaaithanya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reesu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maile
authors.forename: G S J
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bharathi
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sugunan
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands-744101, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayachari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D062312:Islands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; C487630:NA protein, influenza A virus; D009439:Neuraminidase