Increased prevalence of influenza B/Victoria lineage viruses during early stages of the 2015 influenza season in New South Wales, Australia: implications for vaccination and planning.
During the early weeks of the 2015 Australian influenza season, influenza B accounted for 67% (821/1,234) of all positive influenza tests in New South Wales. Of 81 successive influenza B viruses characterised, 33 (41%) were from children aged < 16 years; 23/81 (28%) belonged to the B/Victoria lineage. This lineage is not contained in the southern hemisphere's 2015 trivalent influenza vaccine. The significant B/Victoria lineage activity in the southern hemisphere suggests that the quadrivalent vaccine should be considered for the northern hemisphere.
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Pathology West, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
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Jennings
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Carter
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McPhie
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Kok
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Dwyer
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D014611:Vaccination
D007252:Influenza Vaccines