Epidemiology and genetic characterization of influenza viruses circulating in Bhutan in 2022.
Humans
Bhutan
/ epidemiology
Influenza, Human
/ epidemiology
Child
Adult
Male
Female
Adolescent
Child, Preschool
Middle Aged
Young Adult
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype
/ genetics
Influenza B virus
/ genetics
SARS-CoV-2
/ genetics
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
/ genetics
Seasons
Aged
Infant
COVID-19
/ epidemiology
Phylogeny
Journal
PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2024
2024
Historique:
received:
18
12
2023
accepted:
21
05
2024
medline:
17
9
2024
pubmed:
17
9
2024
entrez:
17
9
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Influenza (Flu) causes considerable morbidity and mortality globally, and in Bhutan, Flu viruses are a leading cause of acute respiratory infection and cause outbreaks during Flu seasons. In this study, we aim to analyze the epidemiology and the genetic characterization of Flu viruses circulated in Bhutan in 2022. Respiratory specimens were collected from patients who meet the case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) from sentinel sites. Specimens were tested for Flu and SARS-CoV-2 viruses by RT-PCR using the Multiplex Assay. Selected positive specimens were utilized for Flu viral genome sequencing by next-generation sequencing. Descriptive analysis was performed on patient demographics to see the proportion of Flu-associated ILI and SARI. All data were analyzed using Epi Info7 and QGIS 3.16 software. A weekly average of 16.2 ILI cases per 1000 outpatient visits and 18 SARI cases per 1000 admitted cases were reported in 2022. The median age among ILI was 12 years (IQR: 5-28) and SARI was 6.2 (IQR: 2.5-15) years. Flu A(H3N2) (70.2%) subtype was the most predominant circulating strain. Flu A(H1N1)pdm09 and Flu B viruses belonged to subclades that were mismatched to the vaccine strains recommended for the 2021-2022 season but matched the vaccine strain for the 2022-2023 season with vaccine efficacy 85.14% and 88.07% respectively. Flu A(H3N2) virus belonged to two subclades which differed from the vaccine strains recommended in both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons with vaccine efficacy 68.28%. Flu virus positivity rates were substantially elevated during the Flu season in 2022 compared to 2021. Flu A(H3N2) subtype was the most predominant circulating strain in the country and globally. Genetic characterization of the Flu viruses in Bhutan showed a close relatedness of high vaccine efficacy with the vaccine strain that WHO recommended for the 2022-23 season.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39288111
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304849
pii: PONE-D-23-38876
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e0304849Informations de copyright
Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Authors have declared that no competing interest exist.