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Eurosurveillance, Volume 19, Issue 37, 18 September 2014
Surveillance and outbreak reports
Burden of influenza B virus infections in Scotland in 2012/13 and epidemiological investigations between 2000 and 2012
H Harvala ()1, D Smith2, K Salvatierra2, R Gunson3, B von Wissmann4, A Reynolds4, C Frew3, A MacLean3, A Hunt5, D Yirrell6, P Simmonds2, J McMenamin4, K Templeton1
Specialist Virology Centre, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Department of Medical Microbiology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Department of Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom
Citation style for this article: Harvala H, Smith D, Salvatierra K, Gunson R, von Wissmann B, Reynolds A, Frew C, MacLean A, Hunt A, Yirrell D, Simmonds P, McMenamin J, Templeton K. Burden of influenza B virus infections in Scotland in 2012/13 and epidemiological investigations between 2000 and 2012. Euro Surveill. 2014;19(37)
ii=20903. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20903
Date of submission: 06 December 2013
We describe the burden of influenza B infections in Scotland during a 13-year study period. Influenza A and B viruses cocirculated throughout the period, with numbers of influenza B cases approaching or exceeding those of influenza A during six influenza seasons. Influenza B viruses of both Victoria and Yamagata lineage were detected in two of six seasons investigated. For the 2012/13 season, influenza B accounted for 44.4% of all influenzas, with the highest incidence in those under the age of five years. Influenza B virus infections led to fewer admissions to an intensive care unit (ICU) and a lower mortality rate than influenza A (37 vs 81 ICU admissions and three vs 29 deaths) during the 2012/13 season. However, a quarter of those admitted to ICU with influenza B had not been immunised and 60% had not received specific influenza antiviral therapy. This highlights the need for consistent influenza vaccination and prompt usage of antiviral treatment for identified risk groups. Combining the newly introduced vaccination programme for children with the use of a tetravalent vaccine may provide the opportunity to improve the control of influenza B in those with the highest influenza B burden, children and young adolescents.
full article
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20903
Surveillance and outbreak reports
Burden of influenza B virus infections in Scotland in 2012/13 and epidemiological investigations between 2000 and 2012
H Harvala ()1, D Smith2, K Salvatierra2, R Gunson3, B von Wissmann4, A Reynolds4, C Frew3, A MacLean3, A Hunt5, D Yirrell6, P Simmonds2, J McMenamin4, K Templeton1
Specialist Virology Centre, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Department of Medical Microbiology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Department of Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom
Citation style for this article: Harvala H, Smith D, Salvatierra K, Gunson R, von Wissmann B, Reynolds A, Frew C, MacLean A, Hunt A, Yirrell D, Simmonds P, McMenamin J, Templeton K. Burden of influenza B virus infections in Scotland in 2012/13 and epidemiological investigations between 2000 and 2012. Euro Surveill. 2014;19(37)
ii=20903. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20903Date of submission: 06 December 2013
We describe the burden of influenza B infections in Scotland during a 13-year study period. Influenza A and B viruses cocirculated throughout the period, with numbers of influenza B cases approaching or exceeding those of influenza A during six influenza seasons. Influenza B viruses of both Victoria and Yamagata lineage were detected in two of six seasons investigated. For the 2012/13 season, influenza B accounted for 44.4% of all influenzas, with the highest incidence in those under the age of five years. Influenza B virus infections led to fewer admissions to an intensive care unit (ICU) and a lower mortality rate than influenza A (37 vs 81 ICU admissions and three vs 29 deaths) during the 2012/13 season. However, a quarter of those admitted to ICU with influenza B had not been immunised and 60% had not received specific influenza antiviral therapy. This highlights the need for consistent influenza vaccination and prompt usage of antiviral treatment for identified risk groups. Combining the newly introduced vaccination programme for children with the use of a tetravalent vaccine may provide the opportunity to improve the control of influenza B in those with the highest influenza B burden, children and young adolescents.
full article
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20903