Influenza Virus Net is the web resource for anyone interested in influenza and flu pandemics. The objectives of Influenza Virus Net are to be the public and professional information resource for influenza and to serve as a network in the exchange of information and news related to influenza.

Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects humans, birds and other mammals. The virus spreads easily from person to person. Influenza circulates worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group. Influenza causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions. Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. An influenza epidemic can take an economic toll through lost workforce productivity, and strain health services. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection.

• Despite flu vaccine benefits, only 40% of US gets flu shot - UPI.com
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:40:
• Jordan's “flu shoes” top $100000; player crashes into fans - The Virginian-Pilot
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:39:
• New York to require flu shots for preschoolers and children in daycare - Examiner.com
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:39:
• Flu bug ramping up across MN - KARE
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:36:
• Breaking news - Tuoitrenews
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:32:
• Flu Season 2013: Starting off Normal - NTV
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:26:
• 6 Natural Flu-Fighting Remedies - U.S. News & World Report (blog)
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:19:
• Michael Jordan's 'flu game' shoes sell for $104765 - Zawya (registration)
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:59:
• Livingston County Public Health Department encourages flu vaccination - MyWebTimes.com
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:40:
• Flu vaccine prevented millions from illness last year, CDC says - The Augusta Chronicle
  Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:39:

• PRO/EDR> Avian influenza, human (154): China (HK,ZG) H7N9 father & son cases, corr.
  Thu, 12 Dec 2013 16:25:07
  Avian Influenza H7N9 -- Zhejiang Province, China
  [Re: Avian influenza, human (154): China (HK,ZG) H7N9 father & son cases 20131210.2103474 ProMEDmail erroneously reported that the patients were a man and his son. The relationship was man and son-in-law. - Mod.CP]
  The World Health Organization (WHO) today [10 Dec 2013] confirmed 4 recent novel H7N9 avian flu cases, as scientists revealed their latest risk assessments based on genetic monitoring and lab tests.
  In a statement, the WHO said it has received reports of 2 infections from
• PRO/EDR> Avian influenza, human (154): China (HK,ZG) H7N9 father & son cases, corr.
  Thu, 12 Dec 2013 16:25:07
  Avian Influenza H7N9 -- Hong Kong
  [Re: Avian influenza, human (154): China (HK,ZG) H7N9 father & son cases 20131210.2103474 ProMEDmail erroneously reported that the patients were a man and his son. The relationship was man and son-in-law. - Mod.CP]
  The World Health Organization (WHO) today [10 Dec 2013] confirmed 4 recent novel H7N9 avian flu cases, as scientists revealed their latest risk assessments based on genetic monitoring and lab tests.
  In a statement, the WHO said it has received reports of 2 infections from
• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (155): China (HK, ZJ) WHO update
  Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:33:02
  Avian Influenza -- China
  On 28 Nov and 6 Dec 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of 2 new laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. The 1st patient is a 57-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He became ill on 20 Nov 2013 and was admitted to hospital on 25 Nov 2013. He is currently in critical condition. The 2nd patient is a 30-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He became ill on 29 Nov 2013 and was admitted to hospital on 5 Dec 2013. He
• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (155): China (HK, ZJ) WHO update
  Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:33:02
  Avian Influenza -- Hong Kong
  On 28 Nov and 6 Dec 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of 2 new laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. The 1st patient is a 57-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He became ill on 20 Nov 2013 and was admitted to hospital on 25 Nov 2013. He is currently in critical condition. The 2nd patient is a 30-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He became ill on 29 Nov 2013 and was admitted to hospital on 5 Dec 2013. He
• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (100): (GD) low pathogenicity H7N9 conf.
  Wed, 11 Dec 2013 21:17:14
  Avian Influenza H7N9 -- China
  Samples from 2 Shenzhen wet markets have tested positive for the H7N9 bird flu virus that has infected 2 people in Hong Kong.
  Confirmation of the test findings came 2 days after the municipal government said the border city could not be confirmed as the source of the outbreak.
  The Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong said yesterday [Tue 10 Dec 2013] that H7N9 had been detected in 3 samples of blood and urine taken from poultry stalls at 2 wet markets in Shenzhen's Longgang
• PRO/EDR> Influenza (65): WHO global update
  Wed, 11 Dec 2013 19:41:23
  Influenza -- Worldwide
  - Overall influenza activity worldwide remained low.
  - Influenza activity in North America remained low in general.
  - Low levels of influenza activity in the WHO European Region continued with sporadic detections of influenza viruses reported from a few countries.
  - In Asia, influenza activity slightly increased in Mongolia and the north of China. While in the south of China, slightly increased activity was observed. In Southeast Asia, influenza activity decreased in Lao People's Democratic
• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (154): China (HK,ZG) H7N9 father & son cases
  Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:50:38
  Avian Influenza H7N9 -- Zhejiang Province, China
  Hong Kong health officials investigating 2 imported H7N9 influenza [cases] from mainland China have found poultry exposures for both patients, as new details emerged about a family connection between China's 2 newest cases, a father and son from Zhejiang province. Updates on Hong Kong's cases were provided today [9 Dec 2013] during a pandemic preparedness steering committee meeting called by Ko Wing-man, MBBS, Hong Kong's secretary for food and health, according to a government press
• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (154): China (HK,ZG) H7N9 father & son cases
  Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:50:38
  Avian Influenza H7N9 -- Hong Kong
  Hong Kong health officials investigating 2 imported H7N9 influenza [cases] from mainland China have found poultry exposures for both patients, as new details emerged about a family connection between China's 2 newest cases, a father and son from Zhejiang province. Updates on Hong Kong's cases were provided today [9 Dec 2013] during a pandemic preparedness steering committee meeting called by Ko Wing-man, MBBS, Hong Kong's secretary for food and health, according to a government press

• Level of respiratory protection against influenza virus.
  Joob B, Wiwanitkit V Level of respiratory protection against influenza virus. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]GMS Hyg Infect Control 2013; 8(2):Doc14.
• Induction of a Soluble Anti-HIV-1 factor (s) with IFN-γ, IL-10, and β-Chemokine Modulating Activity by an Influenza-Bacterial Polyantigenic Mixture.
  Rodríguez JW, Pagan NO, Ocasio MC, et al. Induction of a Soluble Anti-HIV-1 factor (s) with IFN-γ, IL-10, and β-Chemokine Modulating Activity by an Influenza-Bacterial Polyantigenic Mixture. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]Am J Infect Dis 2007; 3(4)Partial immune restoration may be obtained with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), but specific anti-HIV-1 immune responses do not appear to improve substantially. We have demonstrated that a soluble factor(s) induced by a mixture of inactivated influenza and bacterial vaccines called polyantigenic immunomodulator (PAI), possesses strong immunoregulatory and anti-HIV-1 activities. In the present study, we show that culture fluids from both PAI-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and CD8+ T-cells of HIV-1 infected patients were able to suppress HIV-1 replication in an MHC-unrestricted fashion. The PAI-induced antiviral activity was eliminated when culture fluids were pre-heated at 100°C for 10 min. and it is associated with induction of IFN-γ, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES production, but inhibition of IL-10. Furthermore, this induction is dependent on the immunological status (CD4:CD8 ratio) of the HIV-1 infected patient. Taken together, our results suggest that the MHC-unrestricted HIV-1 suppression that is induced by culture fluids from PAI-stimulated PBMC may result from the stimulation of immune cell subpopulations to produce a heat-labile antiviral soluble factor(s), which in turn modulate cytokine and β-chemokine production. The identification of this PAI-induced soluble factor(s) may have major therapeutic potential.
• Response profiles of cytokines and chemokines against avian H9N2 influenza virus within the mouse lung.
  Huang R, Liu J, Liang W, et al. Response profiles of cytokines and chemokines against avian H9N2 influenza virus within the mouse lung. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]Med Microbiol Immunol 2013 Dec 11.The circulation of H9N2 viruses throughout the world, along with their expanded host range, poses a potential health risk to the public, but the host responses to H9N2 virus in mammals were little known. To obtain insight into the host immune responses to the avian H9N2 virus, the expressions of both cytokines and chemokines in the lungs of infected mice were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that interferon gamma (IFN-γ) was the dominant antiviral component, and IFN-γ-induced protein 10 kDa, interleukin 6, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha all played a role in pro-inflammatory responses to H9N2 viruses. In conclusion, this research can make us further understand the infection characteristics of H9N2 virus in mammalian host by providing the data on mice lung immune responses to the avian H9N2 virus.
• Influenza A(H7N9) virus gains neuraminidase inhibitor resistance without loss of in vivo virulence or transmissibility.
  Hai R, Schmolke M, Leyva-Grado VH, et al. Influenza A(H7N9) virus gains neuraminidase inhibitor resistance without loss of in vivo virulence or transmissibility. [Journal Article]Nat Commun 2013 Dec 10.:2854.Without baseline human immunity to the emergent avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, neuraminidase inhibitors are vital for controlling viral replication in severe infections. An amino acid change in the viral neuraminidase associated with drug resistance, NA-R292K (N2 numbering), has been found in some H7N9 clinical isolates. Here we assess the impact of the NA-R292K substitution on antiviral sensitivity and viral replication, pathogenicity and transmissibility of H7N9 viruses. Our data indicate that an H7N9 isolate encoding the NA-R292K substitution is highly resistant to oseltamivir and peramivir and partially resistant to zanamivir. Furthermore, H7N9 reassortants with and without the resistance mutation demonstrate comparable viral replication in primary human respiratory cells, virulence in mice and transmissibility in guinea pigs. Thus, in stark contrast to oseltamivir-resistant seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses, H7N9 virus replication and pathogenicity in these models are not substantially altered by the acquisition of high-level oseltamivir resistance due to the NA-R292K mutation.
• New rubrolides from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus OUCMDZ-1925.
  Zhu T, Chen Z, Liu P, et al. New rubrolides from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus OUCMDZ-1925. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2013 Dec 11.Two new rubrolides, rubrolides R (1) and S (2), were isolated from the fermentation broth of the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus OUCMDZ-1925. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Compound 1 showed comparable or superior antioxidation against 2,2'-azino-di(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals to those of trolox and ascorbic acid with an IC50 value of 1.33 mM. Compound 2 showed comparable or superior anti-influenza A (H1N1) virus activity to that of ribavirin with an IC50 value of 87.1 μM. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed weak cytotoxicity against the K562 cell line with IC50 values of 12.8 and 10.9 μM, respectively.The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, 11 December 2013; doi:10.1038/ja.2013.135.
• Serum antibody response to M2 surface protein following natural infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus in humans.
  Zhong W, Reed C, Blair PJ, et al. Serum antibody response to M2 surface protein following natural infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus in humans. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]J Infect Dis 2013 Dec 10.AbstractPublisher Full TextNatural infection-induced humoral immunity to M2 protein of influenza A viruses in humans is not fully understood at present. Existing evidence suggests that anti-M2 antibody responses following influenza A virus infection are weak and/or transient. We show that seroprevalence of anti-M2 antibodies increased with age in 317 sera from healthy individuals in the U.S. in 2007-08. Infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus [A(H1N1)pdm09] elicited a recall serum antibody response to M2 protein of the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in 47% of the affected 118 individuals tested. Anti-M2 antibody responses were more robust among individuals with preexisting antibodies to M2 protein. Moreover, the antibodies induced as a result of infection with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus were cross-reactive with M2 protein of seasonal influenza A viruses. These results emphasize the need to further investigate the possible roles of anti-M2 antibodies in human influenza A virus infection.
• Survey of human antibody responses to influenza M2 using a sensitive flow cytometric method.
  Epstein SL, Garcia M Survey of human antibody responses to influenza M2 using a sensitive flow cytometric method. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]J Infect Dis 2013 Dec 10.Publisher Full Text
• Co-administration of live measles and yellow fever vaccines and inactivated pentavalent vaccines is associated with increased mortality compared with measles and yellow fever vaccines only. An observational study from Guinea-Bissau.
  Fisker AB, Ravn H, Rodrigues A, et al. Co-administration of live measles and yellow fever vaccines and inactivated pentavalent vaccines is associated with increased mortality compared with measles and yellow fever vaccines only. An observational study from Guinea-Bissau. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]Vaccine 2013 Dec 7.Studies from low-income countries indicate that co-administration of inactivated diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine and live attenuated measles vaccine (MV) is associated with increased mortality compared with receiving MV only. Pentavalent (DTP-H. Influenza type B-Hepatitis B) vaccine is replacing DTP in many low-income countries and yellow fever vaccine (YF) has been introduced to be given together with MV. Pentavalent and YF vaccines were introduced in Guinea-Bissau in 2008. We investigated whether co-administration of pentavalent vaccine with MV and yellow fever vaccine has similar negative effects.In 2007-2011, we conducted a randomised placebo-controlled trial of vitamin A at routine vaccination contacts among children aged 6-23 months in urban and rural Guinea-Bissau. In the present study, we included 2331 children randomised to placebo who received live vaccines only (MV or MV+YF) or a combination of live and inactivated vaccines (MV+DTP or MV+YF+pentavalent). Mortality was compared in Cox proportional hazards models stratified for urban/rural enrolment adjusted for age and unevenly distributed baseline factors.While DTP was still used 685 children received MV only and 358 MV+DTP; following the change in programme, 940 received MV+YF only and 348 MV+YF+pentavalent. During 6 months of follow-up, the adjusted mortality rate ratio (MRR) for co-administered live and inactivated vaccines compared with live vaccines only was 3.24 (1.20-8.73). For MV+YF+pentavalent compared with MV+YF only, the adjusted MRR was 7.73 (1.79-33.4).In line with previous studies of DTP, the present results indicate that pentavalent vaccine co-administered with MV and YF is associated with increased mortality.
• Phylogeography of influenza a H5N1 clade 2.2.1.1 in Egypt.
  Scotch M, Mei C, Makonnen YJ, et al. Phylogeography of influenza a H5N1 clade 2.2.1.1 in Egypt. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]BMC Genomics 2013 Dec 10; 14(1):871.Influenza A H5N1 has killed millions of birds and raises serious public health concern because of its potential to spread to humans and cause a global pandemic. While the early focus was in Asia, recent evidence suggests that Egypt is a new epicenter for the disease. This includes characterization of a variant clade 2.2.1.1, which has been found almost exclusively in Egypt.We analyzed 226 HA and 92 NA sequences with an emphasis on the H5N1 2.2.1.1 strains in Egypt using a Bayesian discrete phylogeography approach. This allowed modeling of virus dispersion between Egyptian governorates including the most likely origin.Phylogeography models of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) suggest Ash Sharqiyah as the origin of virus spread, however the support is weak based on Kullback-Leibler values of 0.09 for HA and 0.01 for NA. Association Index (AI) values and Parsimony Scores (PS) were significant (p-value < 0.05), indicating that dispersion of H5N1 in Egypt was geographically structured. In addition, the Ash Sharqiyah to Al Gharbiyah and Al Fayyum to Al Qalyubiyah routes had the strongest statistical support.We found that the majority of routes with strong statistical support were in the heavily populated Delta region. In particular, the Al Qalyubiyah governorate appears to represent a popular location for virus transition as it represented a large portion of branches in both trees. However, there remains uncertainty about virus dispersion to and from this location and thus more research needs to be conducted in order to examine this.Phylogeography can highlight the drivers of H5N1 emergence and spread. This knowledge can be used to target public health efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality. For Egypt, future work should focus on using data about vaccination and live bird markets in phylogeography models to study their impact on H5N1 diffusion within the country.
• A novel outbred mouse model of 2009 pandemic influenza and bacterial co-infection severity.
  McHugh KJ, Mandalapu S, Kolls JK, et al. A novel outbred mouse model of 2009 pandemic influenza and bacterial co-infection severity. [Journal Article]PLoS One 2013; 8(12):e82865.AbstractPublisher Full TextInfluenza viruses pose a significant health risk and annually impose a great cost to patients and the health care system. The molecular determinants of influenza severity, often exacerbated by secondary bacterial infection, are largely unclear. We generated a novel outbred mouse model of influenza virus, Staphylococcus aureus, and co-infection utilizing influenza A/CA/07/2009 virus and S. aureus (USA300). Outbred mice displayed a wide range of pathologic phenotypes following influenza virus or co-infection ranging broadly in severity. Influenza viral burden positively correlated with weight loss although lung histopathology did not. Inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α, G-CSF, and CXCL10 positively correlated with both weight loss and viral burden. In S. aureus infection, IL-1β, G-CSF, TNF-α, and IL-6 positively correlated with weight loss and bacterial burden. In co-infection, IL-1β production correlated with decreased weight loss suggesting a protective role. The data demonstrate an approach to identify biomarkers of severe disease and to understand pathogenic mechanisms in pneumonia.