Severe cases of seasonal influenza in Russia in 2017-2018

Abstract

Aim.Evaluation of herd immunity prior to the 2017-2018 influenza season, and characterization of influenza viruses isolated from severe or fatal influenza cases and from influenza cases in people vaccinated in the fall of 2017.Materials and methods.Evaluation of herd immunity in hemagglutination inhibition assay. Isolation of influenza viruses. Antigenic and genetic analysis.Results.Prior to epidemic season 33-47% of blood sera samples collected on the territory of Russia showed presence of protective antibody titers against vaccine strains of influenza A, 24-30% of samples — against B/Victoria. During 2017-2018 epidemic season 87 influenza A and B viruses were isolated. A(H1N1)pdm09 strains belonged to clade 6B.1, B/Yamagata strains to clade 3, and B/Victoria strains to clade 1A; they were antigenically similar to corresponding vaccine strains. A(H3N2) viruses belonged to clade 3C.2a and were difficult to characterize antigenically. One strain of influenza virus А(H1N1pdm09) was resistant to oseltamivir and had H275Y amino acid substitution in neuraminidase. All other isolates were susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors.Conclusion.Influenza vaccination with vaccine effective against current circulating strains and treatment with neuraminidase inhibitor drugs at first manifestation of clinical signs of influenza disease are effective means of population protection against influenza.