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Longitudinal surveillance of influenza in Japan, 2006-2016. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12026. [PMID: 35835833 PMCID: PMC9281223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15867-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We analysed 2006–2016 national influenza surveillance data in Japan with regards to age-, sex-, and predominant virus-related epidemic patterns and the prevalence of serum influenza virus antibodies. We found a significant increase in influenza prevalence in both children (≤ 19 years old) and adults (≥ 20 years old) over time. The influenza prevalence was higher in children (0.33 [95% CI 0.26–0.40]) than in adults (0.09 [95% CI 0.07–0.11]). Additionally, the mean prevalence of antibodies for A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) was significantly higher in children than in adults, whereas the mean prevalence of antibodies for B lineages was relatively low in both children and adults. There was a biennial cycle of the epidemic peak in children, which was associated with a relatively higher prevalence of B lineages. The female-to-male ratios of the influenza prevalence were significantly different in children (≤ 19 years old; 1.10 [95% CI:1.08–1.13]), adults (20–59 years old; 0.79 [95% CI 0.75–0.82]), and older adults (≥ 60 years old; 1.01 [95% CI 0.97–1.04]). The significant increase in influenza prevalence throughout the study period suggests a change of immunity to influenza infection. Long-term surveillance is important for developing a strategy to monitor, prevent and control for influenza epidemics.
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Vos LM, Teirlinck AC, Lozano JE, Vega T, Donker GA, Hoepelman AI, Bont LJ, Oosterheert JJ, Meijer A. Use of the moving epidemic method (MEM) to assess national surveillance data for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the Netherlands, 2005 to 2017. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31115311 PMCID: PMC6530251 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.20.1800469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Background To control respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes acute respiratory infections, data and methods to assess its epidemiology are important. Aim We sought to describe RSV seasonality, affected age groups and RSV-type distribution over 12 consecutive seasons in the Netherlands, as well as to validate the moving epidemic method (MEM) for monitoring RSV epidemics. Methods We used 2005−17 laboratory surveillance data and sentinel data. For RSV seasonality evaluation, epidemic thresholds (i) at 1.2% of the cumulative number of RSV-positive patients per season and (ii) at 20 detections per week (for laboratory data) were employed. We also assessed MEM thresholds. Results In laboratory data RSV was reported 25,491 times (no denominator). In sentinel data 5.6% (767/13,577) of specimens tested RSV positive. Over 12 seasons, sentinel data showed percentage increases of RSV positive samples. The average epidemic length was 18.0 weeks (95% confidence intervals (CI): 16.3–19.7) and 16.5 weeks (95% CI: 14.0–18.0) for laboratory and sentinel data, respectively. Epidemics started on average in week 46 (95% CI: 45–48) and 47 (95% CI: 46–49), respectively. The peak was on average in the first week of January in both datasets. MEM showed similar results to the other methods. RSV incidence was highest in youngest (0–1 and >1–2 years) and oldest (>65–75 and > 75 years) age groups, with age distribution remaining stable over time. RSV-type dominance alternated every one or two seasons. Conclusions Our findings provide baseline information for immunisation advisory groups. The possibility of employing MEM to monitor RSV epidemics allows prospective, nearly real-time use of surveillance data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Vos
- University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Anne C Teirlinck
- Centre for infectious Disease Control Bilthoven, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - José E Lozano
- Dirección General de Salud Pública, Consejería de Sanidad, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Tomás Vega
- Dirección General de Salud Pública, Consejería de Sanidad, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Gé A Donker
- NIVEL Primary Care Database - Sentinel Practices, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Andy Im Hoepelman
- University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Louis J Bont
- Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht University, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Jelrik Oosterheert
- University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Adam Meijer
- Centre for infectious Disease Control Bilthoven, Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and laboratory Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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Grilc E, Prosenc Trilar K, Lajovic J, Sočan M. Determining the seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus in Slovenia. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2020; 15:56-63. [PMID: 32656961 PMCID: PMC7767947 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Slovenia, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surveillance is based on national laboratory data. The weeks with more than 10% of samples tested positive compose RSV epidemic season. The use of real‐time multiplex PCR, which identifies other respiratory pathogens in parallel with RSV, caused more testing but the percentage of RSV positives lowered. The 10% threshold was reached with delay, which raised concern about its suitability for defining RSV seasonality. Methods To describe the seasonality of RSV, the onset, offset and duration of the RSV epidemic season across 10 years (from week 40, 2008/2009 to week 39, 2017/2018), four calculative methods were deployed including moving epidemic method, MEM, and epidemiological parameters were compared. Results In 10 years, 10 969 (12%) out of 90 264 samples tested positive for RSV. The number of tested samples increased remarkably from the first to last season with a drop in the percentage of positive samples from 23% to 10%. The onset of RSV epidemic varied considerably regardless of the calculative method used (from 10 to 13 weeks). The unevenness in the RSV epidemic season end was also observed. The average duration of RSV epidemic season was the shortest when moving epidemic method has been used (15.7 weeks) and longest with ≥3% method (22.9 weeks). Conclusion The ≥3% calculative method could be used as an early warning of the RSV season. However, ≥7% calculative method was found to be reliable enough to define the epidemiological parameters of an ongoing season and to support public health response. The potential of the moving epidemic method should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Grilc
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Maja Sočan
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Adlhoch C, Snacken R, Melidou A, Ionescu S, Penttinen P. Dominant influenza A(H3N2) and B/Yamagata virus circulation in EU/EEA, 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons, respectively. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 23. [PMID: 29616611 PMCID: PMC5883452 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.13.18-00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We use surveillance data to describe influenza A and B virus circulation over two consecutive seasons with excess all-cause mortality in Europe, especially in people aged 60 years and older. Influenza A(H3N2) virus dominated in 2016/17 and B/Yamagata in 2017/18. The latter season was prolonged with positivity rates above 50% among sentinel detections for at least 12 weeks. With a current west–east geographical spread, high influenza activity might still be expected in eastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Adlhoch
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - René Snacken
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Angeliki Melidou
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Silviu Ionescu
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pasi Penttinen
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
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- The members of the European Influenza Surveillance Network are listed at the end of article
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Mosnier A, Daviaud I, Casalegno JS, Ruetsch M, Burugorri C, Nauleau E, Bui TT, Fleury H, Lina B, van der Werf S, Cohen JM. Influenza B burden during seasonal influenza epidemics in France. Med Mal Infect 2017; 47:11-17. [PMID: 28062245 DOI: 10.1016/j.medmal.2016.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Seasonal flu outbreaks are linked to the circulation of influenza virus type A or B. Special attention has always been paid to influenza A epidemics; but recently, several studies have investigated the impact of influenza B virus epidemics, particularly as, since the 1980s, two antigenically different influenza B lineages co-circulate, raising the issue of vaccine matching. OBJECTIVES We present the results of influenza B burden during nine influenza seasons (2003-2013) and vaccine matching of the circulating lineages. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical and virological influenza surveillance data, collected by the Regional Groups for Influenza Surveillance Network in France, allows for studying the burden of influenza in the practice of the population of ambulatory care physicians. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Our analysis is based on 37,801 samples, of which 12,036 were virologically confirmed influenza cases (31.8%), including 3576 cases of influenza B (29.7% of influenza cases). Influenza B viruses significantly circulated during six seasons. For each season, the influenza B epidemic peaked later than the influenza A epidemic. Influenza B is very common in children of school age but also affects other age groups. Finally, more than one-third of the analyzed influenza B viruses belonged to a different lineage than the one used in the composition of the trivalent vaccine. Our results are comparable to those described in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mosnier
- Open Rome, 67, rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris, France.
| | - I Daviaud
- Open Rome, 67, rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris, France
| | - J S Casalegno
- Centre national de référence des virus influenza, CBPE, hospices civils de Lyon et Virpath, université Claude-Bernard Lyon, 69000 Lyon, France
| | - M Ruetsch
- Réseau des Groupes régionaux d'observation de la grippe (GROG), 75018 Paris, France
| | - C Burugorri
- Réseau des Groupes régionaux d'observation de la grippe (GROG), 75018 Paris, France
| | - E Nauleau
- Open Rome, 67, rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris, France
| | - T T Bui
- Open Rome, 67, rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris, France
| | - H Fleury
- Laboratoire de virologie, hôpital Pellegrin, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - B Lina
- Centre national de référence des virus influenza, CBPE, hospices civils de Lyon et Virpath, université Claude-Bernard Lyon, 69000 Lyon, France
| | - S van der Werf
- Centre national de référence des virus influenza, génétique moléculaire des virus respiratoires, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, université Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 75015 Paris, France
| | - J M Cohen
- Open Rome, 67, rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris, France
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Adlhoch C, Broberg E, Beauté J, Snacken R, Bancroft E, Zucs P, Penttinen P. Influenza season 2013/14 has started in Europe with influenza A(H1)pdm09 virus being the most prevalent subtype. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 19. [PMID: 24507465 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.4.20686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The 2013/14 influenza season has started in Europe. Four countries have reported medium intensity influenza activity, with children under 15 years being the most affected age group. A growing number of countries see increasing rates of influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection and increasing proportions of specimens positive for influenza A(H1)pdm09 virus. In previous seasons, this subtype was associated with higher reported numbers of severe and fatal cases. Clinicians should offer influenza vaccination to unvaccinated persons belonging to risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Adlhoch
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
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Thompson CI, Lackenby A, Daniels RS, McCauley JW, Pereyaslov D, Broberg EK, Meijer A, Zambon MC. Evaluation of influenza virus antiviral susceptibility testing in Europe: results from the first external quality assessment exercise. J Clin Virol 2013; 56:212-8. [PMID: 23201459 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first antiviral susceptibility testing external quality assessment (EQA) was held for European influenza reference laboratories during winter 2010/11. OBJECTIVES To assess European network influenza antiviral susceptibility testing capability and provide participants with an independent performance evaluation. STUDY DESIGN The EQA panel contained ten coded specimens of inactivated human influenza A and B viruses with reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI), or adamantanes. Twenty-four laboratories from 19 member states of the WHO European region analysed the panel using phenotypic (determination of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values by neuraminidase (NA) enzyme inhibition assay) and/or genotypic methods. RESULTS All 24 laboratories returned genotypic data for A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus, 18 (75%) for former seasonal A(H1N1), 16 (67%) for A(H3N2) and 15 (63%) for influenza B virus, correctly identifying NAI or adamantane reduced susceptibility-associated substitutions in the NA (mean 84%; range 52-100%) or M2 (mean 85%; range 73-94%), respectively. Thirteen laboratories (54%) returned phenotypic NAI susceptibility data. Despite inter-laboratory and inter-assay IC(50) value variation, all 13 laboratories correctly identified oseltamivir reduced susceptibility/resistance in pure preparations of A(H1N1) oseltamivir-resistant viruses. However, only 11 (85%) identified oseltamivir reduced susceptibility/resistance in a mixture of A(H1N1)pdm09 oseltamivir-sensitive/-resistant viruses. Furthermore, 3 laboratories (23%) considered oseltamivir-sensitive influenza B virus reduced susceptible/resistant. CONCLUSIONS Detection of NA-H275Y in A(H1N1) viruses was achieved by most laboratories. IC(50) values and interpretation thereof varied for a sensitive/resistant virus mixture and for influenza B virus. The results of this exercise will assist harmonisation of antiviral susceptibility testing, interpretation and reporting within the European network through targeted training.
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Socan M, Erculj V, Lajovic J. Early detection of influenza like illness through medication sales. Cent Eur J Public Health 2012; 20:156-62. [PMID: 22966744 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring sales of medications is a potential candidate for an early signal of a seasonal influenza epidemic. To test this theory, the data from a traditional, consultation-oriented influenza surveillance system were compared to medication sales and a predictive model was developed. Weekly influenza-like incidence rates from the National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System were compared to sales of seven groups of medications (nasal decongestants, medicines for sore throat (MST), antitussives, mucolytics, analgo-antipyretics, non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs), betalactam antibiotics, and macrolide antibiotics) to determine the correlation of medication sales with the sentinel surveillance system - and therefore their predictive power. Poisson regression and regression tree approaches were used in the statistical analyses. The fact that NSAIDs do not exhibit any seasonality and that prescription of antibiotics requires a visit to the doctor's office makes the two medication groups inappropriate for predictive purposes. The influenza-like illness (ILI) curve is the best matched by the mucolytics and antitussives sales curves. Distinct seasonality is also observed with MST and decongestants. The model including these four medication groups performed best in prediction of ILI incidence rate using the Poisson regression model. Sales of antitussives proved to be the best single predictive variable for regression tree model. Sales of medication groups included in the model were demonstrated to have a predictive potential for early detection of influenza season. The quantitative information on medication sales proves to be a useful supplementary system, complementing the traditional consultation-oriented surveillance system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Socan
- Centre for Communicable Diseases, National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Gao R, Gao Y, Wen L, Shao M, Zou S, Li C, Yang L, Li X, Wang W, Shu Y. Development and implementation of the quality control panel of RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR for avian influenza A (H5N1) surveillance network in mainland China. BMC Infect Dis 2011; 11:67. [PMID: 21406119 PMCID: PMC3066113 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-11-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) have been indispensable methods for influenza surveillance, especially for determination of avian influenza. The movement of testing beyond reference lab introduced the need of quality control, including the implementation of an evaluation system for validating personal training and sample proficiency testing. METHODS We developed a panel with lysates of seasonal influenza virus (H1N1, H3N2 and B), serials of diluted H5N1 virus lysates, and in-vitro transcribed H5 hemaglutinin (HA) and an artificial gene RNAs for RT-PCR and rRT-PCR quality control assessment. The validations of stability and reproducibility were performed on the panel. Additionally, the panel was implemented to assess the detection capability of Chinese human avian influenza networks. RESULTS The panel has relatively high stability and good reproducibility demonstrated by kappa's tests. In the implementation of panel on Chinese human avian influenza networks, the results suggested that there were a relatively low number of discrepancies for both concise and reproducibility in Chinese avian influenza virus net works. CONCLUSIONS A quality control panel of RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR for avian influenza A (H5N1) surveillance network was developed. An available statistical data, which are used to assess the detection capability of networks on avian influenza virus (H5N1), can be obtained relatively easily through implementation of the panel on networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongbao Gao
- Dept. of Influenza, Chinese National Influenza Center, State Key Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Genetic Engineering, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese center for disease control and prevention (China CDC), Beijing 100052, PR China
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Ruiz-Carrascoso G, Casas I, Pozo F, Pérez-González C, Reina J, Pérez-Breña P. Development and implementation of influenza a virus subtyping and detection of genotypic resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors. J Med Virol 2010; 82:843-53. [PMID: 20336728 PMCID: PMC7166748 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, surface glycoproteins with an essential role in viral pathogenesis, are important antigen determinants and essential markers for epidemiological surveillance. Neuraminidase is also a suitable target for designing antiviral drugs. The introduction into clinical practice of neuraminidase inhibitors and the development of random point mutations have increased the emergence of drug-resistant viruses. A universal RT nested PCR-based system has been developed for subtyping H1, H3, N1 and N2, in influenza A viruses of human or animal origin. The subsequent sequencing and analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase templates reveal antigenic and receptor binding changes in the HA1 subunit and mutations of clinical relevance concerning resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors. The specificity and sensitivity of the method were evaluated using 113 influenza A isolates, 105 influenza A positive respiratory samples obtained from patients and 29 prototype strains of both human and animal origin. The resulting analytical sensitivity of the subtyping techniques is one to at least 100 molecules of cloned DNA product in a final reaction volume of 50 microl. In the course of implementing the method, two H1N1 isolates with the H274Y mutation in the neuraminidase segment have been detected and their molecular features analyzed. The emergence of influenza virus resistance makes the neuraminidase genetic characterization and surveillance activities to detect antiviral resistance necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Ruiz-Carrascoso
- Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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Sintchenko V, Gallego B. Laboratory-Guided Detection of Disease Outbreaks: Three Generations of Surveillance Systems. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2009; 133:916-25. [DOI: 10.5858/133.6.916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Context.—Traditional biothreat surveillance systems are vulnerable to incomplete and delayed reporting of public health threats.
Objective.—To review current and emerging approaches to detection and monitoring of biothreats enabled by laboratory methods of diagnosis and to identify trends in the biosurveillance research.
Data Sources.—PubMed (1995 to December 2007) was searched with the combined search terms “surveillance” and “infectious diseases.” Additional articles were identified by hand searching the bibliographies of selected papers. Additional search terms were “public health,” “disease monitoring,” “cluster,” “outbreak,” “laboratory notification,” “molecular,” “detection,” “evaluation,” “genomics,” “communicable diseases,” “geographic information systems,” “bioterrorism,” “genotyping,” and “informatics.” Publication language was restricted to English. The bibliographies of key references were later hand searched to identify articles missing in the database search. Three approaches to infectious disease surveillance that involve clinical laboratories are contrasted: (1) laboratory-initiated infectious disease notifications, (2) syndromic surveillance based on health indicators, and (3) genotyping based surveillance of biothreats. Advances in molecular diagnostics enable rapid genotyping of biothreats and investigations of genes that were not previously identifiable by traditional methods. There is a need for coordination between syndromic and laboratory-based surveillance. Insufficient and delayed decision support and inadequate integration of surveillance signals into action plans remain the 2 main barriers to efficient public health monitoring and response. Decision support for public health users of biosurveillance alerts is often lacking.
Conclusions.—The merger of the 3 scientific fields of surveillance, genomics, and informatics offers an opportunity for the development of effective and rapid biosurveillance methods and tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitali Sintchenko
- From the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Western Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital (Dr Sintchenko), and the Centre for Health Informatics, University of New South Wales (Drs Sintchenko and Gallego), Sydney, Australia
| | - Blanca Gallego
- From the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Western Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital (Dr Sintchenko), and the Centre for Health Informatics, University of New South Wales (Drs Sintchenko and Gallego), Sydney, Australia
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Meerhoff TJ, Fleming D, Smith A, Mosnier A, van Gageldonk-Lafeber AB, Paget WJ. Surveillance recommendations based on an exploratory analysis of respiratory syncytial virus reports derived from the European Influenza Surveillance System. BMC Infect Dis 2006; 6:128. [PMID: 16899110 PMCID: PMC1560143 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2006] [Accepted: 08/09/2006] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important pathogen that can cause severe illness in infants and young children. In this study, we assessed whether data on RSV collected by the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS) could be used to build an RSV surveillance system in Europe. Methods Influenza and RSV data for the 2002–2003 winter season were analysed for England, France, the Netherlands and Scotland. Data from sentinel physician networks and other sources, mainly hospitals, were collected. Respiratory specimens were tested for influenza and RSV mainly by virus culture and polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results Data on RSV were entered timely into the EISS database. RSV contributed noticeably to influenza-like illness: in England sentinel RSV detections were common in all age groups, but particularly in young children with 20 (40.8%) of the total number of sentinel swabs testing positive for RSV. Scotland and France also reported the highest percentages of RSV detections in the 0–4 year age group, respectively 10.3% (N = 29) and 12.2% (N = 426). In the Netherlands, RSV was detected in one person aged over 65 years. Conclusion We recommend that respiratory specimens collected in influenza surveillance are also tested systematically for RSV and emphasize the use of both community derived data and data from hospitals for RSV surveillance. RSV data from the EISS have been entered in a timely manner and we consider that the EISS model can be used to develop an RSV surveillance system equivalent to the influenza surveillance in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara J Meerhoff
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), EISS-coordination centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ann Smith
- Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - W John Paget
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), EISS-coordination centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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