Tracking the emergence of pandemic Influenza A/H1N1/2009 and its interaction with seasonal influenza viruses in Singapore

Ann Acad Med Singap. 2010 Apr;39(4):291-4.

Abstract

Introduction: Since the emergence of the pandemic influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus in April 2009, diagnostic testing in many countries has revealed the rapid displacement and then replacement of circulating seasonal influenza viruses by this novel virus.

Materials and methods: In-house seasonal and pandemic influenza-specific polymerase chain reaction assays were introduced and/or developed at the Molecular Diagnosis Centre (MDC) at the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore. These assays have been used to test all samples received from in-patients, out-patients, staff and visitors for suspected pandemic influenza A/H1N1/2009 infection.

Results: Prior to the arrival of the pandemic A/H1N1/2009 virus in Singapore at the end of May 2009, seasonal influenza A/H3N2 predominated in this population, with very little seasonal influenza A/H1N1 and B viruses detected. Within about 1 month of its arrival in Singapore (mainly during June to July 2009), this pandemic virus rapidly displaced seasonal influenza A/H3N2 to become the predominant strain in the Singaporean population served by MDC/NUH.

Conclusions: Realtime molecular techniques have allowed the prompt detection of different influenza subtypes during this current pandemic, which has revealed the displacement/replacement of previously circulating seasonal subtypes with A/H1N1/2009. Although some of this may be explained by immunological cross-reactivity between influenza subtypes, more studies are required.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging
  • Cross Reactions
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Gammainfluenzavirus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza, Human / classification
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Singapore / epidemiology