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

Z Jennings; I Carter; K McPhie; J Kok; D E Dwyer

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.31.21201

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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
Z Jennings¹ , I Carter¹ , K McPhie¹ , J Kok^1,2,3 , D E Dwyer^1,2,3
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Affiliations: ¹ Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Pathology West, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia ² Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia ³ Centre for Research Excellence in Critical Infections, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia

Correspondence:
J Kok
jen.kok health.nsw.gov.au
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Citation style for this article: Jennings Z, Carter I, McPhie K, Kok J, Dwyer D E. 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. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(31):pii=21201. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.31.21201 Received: 22 Jul 2015

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Abstract

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.