National Institute of Virology, Pune-411001, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference of Indian Virological Society on “Emerging and Re-emerging viral Diseases of the Tropics and Subtropics” at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, December 11–14, 2007.
Influenza viruses cause frequent morbidity in India. Strains included in vaccines are update twice a year hence, regular surveillance is necessary to track minor drift and major antigenic shift in the circulating strains. Objective: Virological surveillance of influenza in different area of Pune during 15th Sept 2006–14th Sept 2007 to contribute information to the global influenza surveillance network. Indian Council of Medical Research has established an influenza surveillance network in India, in collaboration with the CDC of which Pune is one. Using a case definition for suspected influenza patients clinical samples were colleted from dispensaries located in different areas of Pune. Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cell line was used for virus isolation. The isolates were antigenically characterized by Heamaggulutination inhibition test using WHO reference sera. From 15th Sept 2006 to 14th Sept 2007 529 patients presented with symptoms of fever at the time of presentation (91.1%), cough (81.8%) nasal discharge (68.2%), chills and rigor (34.2%), body ache (27.4%), headache (27.4%), sore throat (19.3%). Male to Female ratio was 1.3:1. 51.4% of the patients were children below 5 years of age. A marked seasonality was observed in Pune during Sept 2006 to Sept 2007 with peak activity in June & July. 38 isolates (isolation rates 7.1%) of influenza virus were obtained, of which 23 isolates were A (H1N1), 8-A (H3N2), and 7 -Type B were obtained. In Pune from Sept 2006 to Sept 2007 A (H1N1) was the predominantly circulating strain.
